N.J. Admin. Code § 8:33E-2.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:33E-2.7 - Regional responsibilities of cardiac surgery centers

(a) Each cardiac surgery center shall have written transfer agreements to receive appropriate cardiac patients from hospitals located in the same county as the cardiac surgery center or a contiguous county. Additional transfer agreements with hospitals outside the county or a contiguous county are not prohibited. The transfer agreements shall include, but not be limited to, provisions establishing the following:

1. Provision by the cardiac surgery center of specifically identified contacts available 24 hours per day, seven days per week who are authorized to make an immediate decision regarding the cardiac surgery center's ability to accept transfer of a patient;

2. The responsibilities of each facility in assuring that appropriately equipped transport vehicles with trained nursing support during transport is available as needed for patient transfer 24 hours per day, seven days per week;

3. Provision by the cardiac surgery center of an ongoing educational program for physicians, nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel relating to topics including, but not limited to, recognition of symptoms of cardiac distress and diagnosis of cardiac conditions;

4. Provision by the cardiac surgery center of training in therapies, such as insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump, required to stabilize patients for transfer, and the responsibilities of each facility in assuring that therapies to stabilize patients for transfer are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week; and

5. Availability through the cardiac surgery center of consultation 24 hours per day, seven days per week to assist in the diagnosis of patients presenting at the other facility with possible cardiac symptoms.

(b) Each applicant shall agree to send out a mailing to all appropriate institutions and physicians stating that the services of the center are available, including as appropriate, the training, back-up and consultation services addressed in the transfer agreements. Following certificate of need approval, the cardiac surgery center shall provide the Department with written documentation that this mailing has occurred.

(c) Each applicant shall provide written documentation in the form of an institutional policy statement that the center will accept referrals from physicians not ordinarily having access to the applicant's facility. The institutional policy statement shall govern all cardiac services, be reviewed annually, and be revised as needed.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:33E-2.7

Repeal and new rule, R.2001 d.482, effective 12/17/2001.
See: 33 New Jersey Register 3256(a), 33 New Jersey Register 4342(a).
Section was "Referral".