2013 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 44 - Health
CHAPTER 61 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
SECTION 44-61-520. Trauma care standards and regulations; revocation of designation; fines.

(A) The Department of Health and Environmental Control, with the advice of the Trauma Advisory Council, established pursuant to Section 44-61-530, may develop standards and promulgate regulations for the creation and establishment of a State Trauma Care System to promote access to trauma care for all residents of the State.

(B) In developing this system, the department shall take into consideration current recognized national standards for trauma care systems including, but not limited to, standards for trauma care cited in "Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient" adopted by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma and the guidelines for trauma care systems adopted by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

(C) All authority and responsibility for the Trauma Care System is vested in the department and the department may:

(1) establish minimum standards for levels of designation as a trauma center, consistent with this article, through regulations promulgated by the department;

(2) require facilities applying for trauma center designation or other participation in the Trauma Care System to submit an application in a manner and form prescribed by the department;

(3) conduct on-site inspections and reviews of facilities seeking designation or participation in the Trauma Care System. As part of this process, the department may review or request records and other information it considers reasonably necessary to determine a facility's ability to comply with the minimum trauma care standards set by the department for a particular level or type of designation;

(4) when appropriate, designate applicant hospitals as trauma centers, which are authorized to provide a level of trauma care based on criteria established pursuant to this article;

(5) periodically verify, or inspect, or both, designated trauma centers and other participating providers to assure compliance with the provisions of this article and regulations promulgated pursuant to this article. Information received by the department through filed reports, inspections, or as otherwise authorized under this article must not be disclosed publicly in such a manner as to identify individuals or hospitals or other participating providers except in proceedings involving the denial, change, or revocation of a trauma center designation or type, the imposition of a fine, or the determination that a provider is no longer eligible to participate in the Trauma Care System;

(6) promote access to quality trauma care by encouraging facilities in all areas of the State to participate in the trauma system and to attempt to meet the minimum standards as established by the department pursuant to this article;

(7) oversee a continuing quality improvement system for the statewide Trauma Care System.

(D) Within one year of the effective date of regulations promulgated pursuant to this article, a trauma center designated prior to the effective date of this article, which wishes to remain a designated trauma center, must comply with the provisions of this article and submit an application and obtain approval by the department to maintain its status as a designated trauma center.

(E)(1) The department may immediately revoke or change a trauma center's designation if the trauma center fails to meet prescribed requirements for designation at a particular level or no longer meets established standards and criteria.

(2) The department may immediately determine that a participating facility or provider is no longer eligible for participation in the trauma system and remove that provider from the system or impose a fine, or both, if the facility or provider no longer meets established standards and criteria.

(F) The department may fine any provider or facility that displays an inaccurate trauma center designation or holds itself out to be a designated trauma care center or participating trauma care system provider without first obtaining the department's approval and meeting established criteria for participation or designation or provides false information to the department or otherwise violates the conditions of this article or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article. The department may also levy fines on any licensed emergency medical service provider found out of compliance with this or other related emergency medical service statutes or regulations. Maximum and minimum fine limits must be established in regulation.

(G) The Trauma Care Fund, established pursuant to Section 44-61-540, may retain fines collected pursuant to this article up to an amount of twenty-five thousand dollars per fiscal year. Amounts collected in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars per fiscal year must be deposited into the general fund of the State.

(H) An appeal of a department decision involving an application, the revocation or changing of a designation, or a decision involving fines imposed under this article are governed by the Administrative Procedures Act.

HISTORY: 2004 Act No. 232, Section 1, eff May 11, 2004.