Pennsylvania Act 1992-146 — EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT - AMEND CERTIFICATES OF ACCREDITATION

Act text

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT - AMEND CERTIFICATES OF ACCREDITATION
                 Act of Dec. 14, 1992, P.L. 1126, No. 146             Cl. 35
                             Session of 1992
                               No. 1992-146

     HB 2293

                                  AN ACT

     Amending the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), entitled "An
        act relating to the prevention and reduction of premature
        death and disability in this Commonwealth; providing for
        assistance, coordination and support of the development and
        maintenance of a comprehensive emergency medical services
        system and for qualifications, eligibility and certification
        of emergency medical services personnel and licensing
        ambulance services; imposing powers and duties on the
        Department of Health; and making repeals," further providing
        for the validity of certificates of accreditation.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 6(a) of the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164,
     No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act, is amended
     to read:
      Section 6.  Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation.
        (a)  Trauma center accreditation.--The Pennsylvania Trauma
     Systems Foundation shall develop a private voluntary
     accreditation program to:
            (1)  Establish standards for the operation of trauma
        centers in this Commonwealth, adopting, at a minimum, the
        current guidelines for trauma centers as defined by the
        American College of Surgeons for Level I or Level II trauma
        centers. For the purpose of reaccreditation, the standards
        shall require, as a minimum, that each accredited Level I
        trauma center shall establish that 600 severe and urgent
        injury cases have been treated per year and Level II trauma
        centers shall establish that 350 severe and urgent injury
        cases have been treated per year.
            (2)  Evaluate any hospital which makes application to the
        foundation to determine if the applicant hospital meets the
        standards as adopted by the foundation. Such evaluation shall
        include the conduct of hospital site visits by accreditation
        survey teams composed of independent, qualified persons
        selected by the foundation.
            (3)  Issue certificates of accreditation to those
        hospitals which meet the accreditation standards.
        Certificates of accreditation shall be valid for a period not
        to exceed [two] three years. Certificates of accreditation
        may be revoked by the foundation if it is determined that the
        trauma center no longer meets accreditation standards as set
        forth in this act.
            (4)  Establish an appeals mechanism to reconsider
        accreditation decisions.
        * * *
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

     APPROVED--The 14th day of December, A. D. 1992.

     ROBERT P. CASEY