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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-3A-02" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="3A" subtitle_name="Freestanding Medical Facilities">
  <level label="a">
    <text>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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The regulations shall require the freestanding medical facility to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Have available at all times:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>At least 1 physician who is credentialed in emergency medicine by the hospital of which the freestanding medical facility is an administrative part;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A sufficient number of registered nurses and other health care professionals to provide advanced life support;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Basic diagnostic and laboratory facilities and technicians;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Resuscitation supplies and equipment, including monitors, defibrillators, cardiac medications, intubation equipment, and intravenous line equipment;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>A commercial ambulance for transport of individuals in need of hospitalization or other emergency care; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Emergency services to all individuals, regardless of ability to pay;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Comply with all Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems emergency transport protocols established for the freestanding medical facility;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>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</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>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;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Refrain from use of the words “emergency department”, “emergency room”, or “hospital”; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Meet any other standard that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure the quality and safety of services provided by a freestanding medical facility.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
