Rule 111-8-4-.09 - Professional Services(1) All services provided by or in the center shall be provided by persons who are currently licensed to perform the services they render when such services require licensure or registration under the laws of the State of Georgia. There shall be a sufficient number of qualified staff members to adequately provide for patient needs based on services provided and the number of patients served.(2) Each center shall have a professional director who shall be a practitioner currently licensed in Georgia, and who shall be responsible for the direction and coordination of all medical aspects of the center program.(3) General anesthesia shall be administered by an anesthesiologist, a physician anesthetist, an oral surgeon, or a certified R.N. anesthetist under the direction and responsibility of a currently licensed physician with training and experience in anesthesia, as specified in Georgia Code 84-10A. After administration of a general anesthetic, patients shall be constantly attended (at bedside) by a person qualified as above or by an R.N. until reactive and able to summon aid.(4) All nursing services shall be under the supervision of a registered nurse (R.N.). Each center shall have a sufficient number of currently licensed nurses present and on duty to attend to patients at all times patients are receiving treatment or recovering from treatment up to and including the time of discharge. Additional staff shall be on duty and available to assist the professional staff to adequately handle routine and emergency patient needs.(5) Each center shall establish written procedures for emergency services which will insure that a professional staff member who has been trained in emergency resuscitation procedures shall be on duty at all times when there is a patient receiving treatment or recovering from treatment, up to and including the time of discharge.(6) The written procedures shall provide that an appropriate practitioner be designated on call and available to provide timely response to emergencies which may occur with any patient in the center.(7) Each center shall have a hospital affiliation agreement and/or the medical staff must have admitting privileges or other acceptable documented arrangements to insure the necessary backup for medical complications. The center must have the capability to transfer a patient immediately to a hospital with adequate emergency room services.(8) Each center will have effective policies and procedures for handling infection control and for recording complications which occur during or after surgery, which includes a reporting mechanism for patients who develop infections or postoperative complications after discharge.(9) Either prior to, or at the time of admission, each patient who is admitted to the center without an appointment with a specified practitioner shall be provided (in writing) with the name, address and phone number of the practitioner who is serving him/her. The practitioner or a qualified counselor designated by the practitioner, shall explain the surgical and medical procedures, its potential complications, and postoperative complications and other alternatives to surgery; this shall be confirmed by the patient who shall sign an informed consent form as provided under O.C.G.A. § 31-9-1et seq. Prior to dismissal, each patient shall be provided with both verbal and written instructions for posttreatment care and procedures for obtaining emergency care, if needed during the period of recuperation.(10) All ancillary supportive health or medical services such as radiological services, pharmaceutical services, or clinical laboratory services provided in or by the center shall be in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the State of Georgia.(11) Each center shall establish policies for patient care and procedures for maintaining these policies.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-4-.09
O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2-4et seq. and 31-7-1 et seq.
Original Rule entitled "Professional Services" adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2013; eff. Mar. 12, 2013.