DQA
Construction/Remodeling
 Plan Review for
 Health Care Facilities

This website provides instructions on how to submit plan reviews to the Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) for the construction and remodeling of:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled (FDD)
• Community based residential facilities (CBRF)
• Adult Family Homes (AFH)
• Residential Care Apartment Complexes (RCAC)
• Hospice inpatient facilities
• Business occupancies physically attached to a hospital, nursing home, CBRF, or hospice inpatient facility
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers/End Stage Renal Dialysis Facilities (Courtesy Review)

The authority for DHS plan review specifically relates to the building, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and fire protection system construction projects for the above listed health care facilities.

"Preliminary" reviews are mandated for hospital and nursing home projects to ensure compliance with the appropriate codes, familiarize the design team with Wisconsin inspection processes, and establish communication links. Regulations requiring this "preliminary" review for hospitals can be located at DHS 124.29(1) Adm. code, and for nursing homes at DHS 132.84(17)(a) Adm. code.

A "courtesy" plan review may be submitted to DHS for review of construction plans for ambulatory surgical centers and end stage renal dialysis facilities if the owner intends to become certified in the Medicare (CMS) program.

DHS has the authority to grant a 'permission to start' for only two conditions as long as an application is received and an additional fee is paid:

• demolition work prior to remodeling
• footings and foundation work

NOTE: Unique systems not reviewed by DHS for the providers listed above include plumbing systems, private onsite waste treatment, elevators, boilers, and mechanical refrigeration systems. These systems are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings Division for review. Information regarding their plan submittal process is available at: http://www.commerce.state.wi.us.

Follow these links, in the order listed, to begin the plan review process:

1. Rules, Regulations & Guidelines
2. Forms (applications, permit to start, fee calculator)
3. Business Flow Charts (Authority Having Jurisdiction)
4. DQA Plan Intake Staff and Inspectors (names and contact information)
5. Construction Inspections (Compliance Statement & Inspection Checklists)
6. Code Interpretations
7. Informational Memorandums (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid, DQA)
8. DQA Plan Application Status Report (Status of DQA Review)
9. Post Construction Inspection Questionnaire - for Hospitals (Quality Assurance Initiative)

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