2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 35 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 81 - Emergency Medical Services System
8127 - Medical command facilities.

     § 8127.  Medical command facilities.
        (a)  Certification required.--To operate as a medical command
     facility, a medical unit must be certified by the department as
     a medical command facility. The department shall issue a
     certification to each medical unit that operated as a medical
     command facility immediately prior to the effective date of this
     section.
        (b)  Application.--Application for certification shall be on
     a form or through an electronic application process prescribed
     by the department. The application shall solicit information
     necessary to determine that the applicant meets the
     certification requirements of this chapter.
        (c)  Requirements.--An applicant shall establish that the
     applicant:
            (1)  Is a distinct medical unit operated by a hospital or
        consortium of hospitals.
            (2)  Possesses the necessary equipment and personnel for
        providing medical command to and control over EMS providers.
            (3)  Employs a medical command facility medical director.
            (4)  Has taken measures necessary to ensure that a
        medical command physician is available to provide medical
        command at all times.
            (5)  Meets the communication, recordkeeping and other
        requirements of the department.
        (d)  Additional requirements.--In addition to the
     requirements of subsection (c), the department may establish by
     regulation requirements for a medical command facility to ensure
     that it operates in an effective and efficient manner to achieve
     the purposes for which it is certified.
        (e)  Triennial registration.--A medical command facility's
     certification is deemed registered for three years after
     issuance. A medical command facility must register its
     certification at three-year intervals by completing an
     application for triennial registration on a form or through an
     electronic application process prescribed by the department. The
     department shall grant or deny recertification within 30 days of
     receipt of the application.
        (f)  Inspections and inquiries.--The department shall conduct
     an inspection of the medical unit of each applicant and also
     inspect existing medical command facilities from time to time as
     appropriate but not less than once every three years. The
     department shall have full and free access to examine the
     medical command facility and its records relating to its
     operation as a medical command facility. The medical command
     facility shall fully respond to any inquiry by the department
     relevant to the determination of whether the facility meets
     certification and operational requirements.
        (g)  Grounds for discipline.--The department may discipline a
     medical command facility for the following reasons:
            (1)  Violating a requirement of this section.
            (2)  Violating a certification requirement or an
        operational requirement imposed under subsection (d).
            (3)  Refusing to permit an inspection or respond to an
        inquiry under subsection (f).
            (4)  Failing to comply, without just cause, with a
        medical treatment, transport or transfer protocol approved by
        the department.
        (h)  Types of discipline.--When the department is empowered
     to discipline a medical command facility, the department may do
     one or more of the following:
            (1)  Deny the application for a certification.
            (2)  Issue a public reprimand.
            (3)  Revoke, suspend, limit or otherwise restrict or
        condition the certification.
            (4)  Impose a civil money penalty of up to $5,000 for
        each act that presents a basis for discipline.
            (5)  Stay enforcement of any suspension, revocation or
        other discipline and place the facility on probation with the
        right to vacate the probationary order for noncompliance.