Licensing of facility, use of emergency language (a) On or before January 1, 2006, the Department shall adopt regulations for licensing a freestanding medical facility that uses in its title or advertising the word “emergency” or other language indicating to the public that medical treatment for immediately life-threatening medical conditions is available at that freestanding medical facility.
Access to facility, health professionals (b) The regulations shall require the freestanding medical facility to:
(1) Be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
(2) Have available at all times:
(i) At least 1 physician who is credentialed in emergency medicine by the hospital of which the freestanding medical facility is an administrative part;
(ii) A sufficient number of registered nurses and other health care professionals to provide advanced life support;
(iii) Basic diagnostic and laboratory facilities and technicians;
(iv) Resuscitation supplies and equipment, including monitors, defibrillators, cardiac medications, intubation equipment, and intravenous line equipment;
(v) A commercial ambulance for transport of individuals in need of hospitalization or other emergency care; and
(vi) Emergency services to all individuals, regardless of ability to pay;
(3) Comply with all Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems emergency transport protocols established for the freestanding medical facility;
(4)(i) Comply, except in a life-threatening emergency in which compliance is not feasible or practicable, with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on universal precautions; and
(ii) Display the notice developed under § 1-207 of the Health Occupations Article that explains the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on universal precautions at the entrance to the freestanding medical facility;
(5) Refrain from use of the words “emergency department”, “emergency room”, or “hospital”; and
(6) Meet any other standard that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure the quality and safety of services provided by a freestanding medical facility.
Credits
Added by Acts 1985, c. 178, § 1, eff. July 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1992, c. 154, § 1, eff. July 1, 1992; Acts 2005, c. 25, § 13, eff. April 12, 2005; Acts 2005, c. 549, § 1, eff. June 1, 2005; Acts 2005, c. 550, § 1, eff. June 1, 2005; Acts 2010, c. 72, § 1, eff. April 13, 2010.
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
