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<chapter num="03" heading="Requirements for Designated Trauma or Specialty Referral Centers" title_num="30" subtitle_num="08">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Requirements for Trauma or Specialty Referral Centers.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A hospital designated as a trauma or specialty referral center shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Comply with the applicable standards for trauma or specialty care as developed by MIEMSS and set forth in COMAR 30.08.05—30.08.12;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Receive all trauma or specialty patients, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, or ability to pay;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Upon MIEMSS' request, provide data to MIEMSS related to trauma or specialty care programs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Allow MIEMSS to monitor compliance with applicable regulations and standards as set forth by MIEMSS, including providing MIEMSS with access to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Patient discharge summaries,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Patient care logs,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Patient care records,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Hospital trauma or specialty care quality management program records, including minutes, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>Other documents that MIEMSS determines to be relevant; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Require confidentiality of information relating to an individual patient, provider, and hospital care outcomes in accordance with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Health Occupations Article, Title 1, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>General Provisions Article, Title 4, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Emergency Standards.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>MIEMSS may impose additional requirements on a trauma or specialty referral center if it determines that the requirements are necessary for the immediate protection of trauma or specialty patients.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>MIEMSS shall provide the designated trauma or specialty referral center with advance written notice of an additional emergency standard.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The designated trauma or specialty referral center shall have reasonable time to comply with the emergency standard.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Prehospital Triage and Transport.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>MIEMSS shall develop and distribute to health care providers prehospital triage and transport protocols for patients needing trauma or specialty referral services to ensure that patients who meet the triage criteria established by the protocols are transported directly to an appropriate facility.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>In the absence of extenuating circumstances, a health care provider shall transport a patient to the closest appropriate trauma or specialty referral center, consistent with the triage protocols.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Prohibited Acts.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A hospital may not represent itself to be a trauma or specialty referral center unless it is so designated by MIEMSS and approved by the EMS Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A designated trauma or specialty referral center may not advertise services or capabilities for the treatment of patients above the trauma care level or specialty for which it has been designated.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Education Article, §13-509, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: March 24, 1997 (24:6 Md. R. 488)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.03 amended effective July 1, 2002 (29:12 Md. R. 932)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2006 (33:15 Md. R. 1276); amended permanently effective October 23, 2006 (33:21 Md. R. 1678)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A amended effective December 19, 2005 (32:25 Md. R. 1947); October 12, 2015 (42:20 Md. R. 1265)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>