Title: Section 407.10 - Primary care related inpatient and outpatient services

407.10 Primary care related inpatient and outpatient services.

(a) Definition. Primary care related inpatient and outpatient services are those non-critical or special care services that are provided to patients on a short term inpatient or outpatient basis to protect and promote the health and well being of the patients. Such services shall be provided to inpatients who are in need of clinical preventive services and/or the continuous management of non-critical medical conditions and to members of the community on an outpatient basis.

(b) General provisions. Primary care related inpatient and outpatient services shall be organized to meet the needs of patients and provided to patients requiring such care on a short term basis. PCH/CAH primary care services shall be provided through medical and professional staff and support services appropriate to the scope of services offered and consistent with the primary health care needs of the patients.

(c) Organization and direction. Primary care related inpatient services shall be directed by a physician member of the medical/professional staff, who shall be responsible for the administrative and clinical aspects of all such inpatient care services. The director shall have received specialized training in and have demonstrated competence in the organization and delivery of, primary care services, and may also be responsible for the administrative and clinical aspects of all outpatient primary care services.

(1) The provision of all primary care related inpatient and outpatient services shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice and other licensed health care practitioner standards of practice.

(2) The PCH shall ensure that written policies and procedures are developed for the provision of all inpatient and outpatient primary care services, and implemented by the medical and professional staff.

(3) Such policies shall set forth procedures for ensuring that all patients are provided with information necessary for their selection of or referral to community based primary care providers, and for the ongoing management of a patient's primary health care needs.

(d) If the PCH/CAH has an organized outpatient service, the service shall be operated in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (a) through (c) of section 405.20 of this Title and organized in a manner that supports and augments other primary care services available in the rural area being served by the PCH/CAH.