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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 10.50.01.08" title_num="10" subtitle_num="50" chapter_num="01" heading="Inspection by OHCQ.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Open for Inspection.  A permit holder shall allow an on-site inspection by the OHCQ, or any designee by OHCQ, at any time during the tissue bank's regular hours of operation, to evaluate the tissue bank's compliance with the applicable requirements, conditions, and standards of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Content of Inspection.  An inspection may include, but is not limited to, observation and examination of:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Tissue bank facilities and physical security;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Equipment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Quality assurance and quality control policies and records;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Operating procedures, policies, and records;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Personnel and personnel records;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Donor documentation and records; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Other records and files pertinent to this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Access to Records. Tissue bank employees shall make data and records accessible within a reasonable time during an inspection by OHCQ or any designee by OHCQ.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Permitted Tissue Bank. A permit holder operating a tissue bank under a provisional permit or a permit shall be subject to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An initial inspection conducted by the OHCQ;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Periodic inspections by the OHCQ; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Other inspections by the OHCQ to determine if the tissue bank is in compliance with licensure requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Accredited Tissue Bank. An accredited tissue bank is subject to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An initial inspection by an accreditation organization or the OHCQ;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Periodic inspections by an accreditation organization or the OHCQ; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Other inspections by the OHCQ to determine if the tissue bank is in compliance with licensure requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Notice of Deficiencies. If a survey identifies noncompliance with a requirement, the Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Issue a written Statement of Deficiencies that cites each deficiency;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Require the tissue bank to submit an acceptable plan of correction within 10 calendar days of receipt of the Statement of Deficiencies;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Notify the tissue bank of any sanctions imposed or that failure to correct the violation may result in sanctions; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Offer the tissue bank the opportunity for informal dispute resolution (IDR).</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Plan of Correction.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The tissue bank shall submit a written plan of correction to the OHCQ in response to a Statement of Deficiencies documenting the steps the permit holder will take to come into compliance, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>How the tissue bank will correct each deficiency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date by which each deficient practice will be corrected;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>How the tissue bank will prevent the deficient practice from recurring; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Who will be responsible for ensuring the deficiency will not reoccur.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Failure of the tissue bank to return an acceptable plan of correction within 10 calendar days after receipt of a Statement of Deficiencies may result in a sanction.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A tissue bank’s request for an IDR does not change the tissue bank's requirement to submit a plan of correction for all deficiencies within 10 calendar days after receipt of the Statement of Deficiencies.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If an immediate jeopardy is identified during a survey, the tissue bank’s plan of correction shall completely correct all noncompliance associated with the immediate jeopardy.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Immediate Jeopardy.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Declaration of Immediate Jeopardy.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>When the Department identifies a situation in which immediate corrective action is necessary because the tissue bank's noncompliance with one or more licensure requirements has already caused, is causing, or is likely to cause, at any time, serious harm or death, to individuals served by the tissue bank or to the health or safety of the general public, an immediate jeopardy will be declared.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Department shall provide the tissue bank a written notice that includes a description of the situation that constitutes an immediate jeopardy.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Removal Plan.  The tissue bank shall submit a written removal plan to the Department that includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The immediate corrective action a tissue bank will take to prevent serious harm from occurring or recurring;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>All actions to remove past, present, and future jeopardy; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The date by which the entity asserts the likelihood for serious harm to any recipient or the general public will no longer exist.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department’s Review of the Removal Plan.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The OHCQ staff shall review the tissue bank's removal plan to determine if the removal plan, if implemented appropriately, will remove the likelihood that serious harm will occur, or recur.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The OHCQ shall verify that the tissue bank has implemented the removal plan.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Department’s Approval of the Removal Plan. The Department shall approve the removal plan after verifying that all actions the tissue bank took were effective in removing the likelihood that serious harm or death would occur or recur.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR).</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A tissue bank may request an IDR to dispute one or more deficiencies in a Statement of Deficiencies.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The tissue bank shall submit the request for an IDR to the OHCQ within 10 calendar days of receiving the Statement of Deficiencies.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The written request for an IDR shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Fully describe the disagreement with the Statement of Deficiencies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include all accompanying evidence for the OHCQ’s consideration.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>At the discretion of the OHCQ, the IDR may be held in person, by telephone, by video conference, or in writing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>IDRs are informal in nature and may not be attended by legal counsel representing the tissue bank or the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The IDR process may not delay the effective date of any enforcement action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>In the event a tissue bank requests an IDR for a Statement of Deficiencies written by a designee of the Department, the Department shall request the designee to participate in the IDR process.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>There is no appeal of the Department’s decision in an IDR.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Process of Filing a Complaint. The tissue bank shall have a written process that describes how donors and recipients of tissue bank services are notified of how to file a complaint with the OHCQ and, if applicable, an accreditation organization.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>