S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-16.903

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

Section 61-16.903 - External Medical Surge

A. Some emergency situations might overwhelm a Facility's plans for Internal Medical Surge or render the licensed inpatient hospital building(s) unusable. In such situations, a Facility may activate External Medical Surge and operate an Alternate Care Site (ACS) under the authority of its license during an emergency situation such as a mass casualty event or Facility evacuation. To activate an ACS, the Facility's census must be projected to surge beyond its planned Internal Medical Surge capacity or the Facility's main building, or a portion of the building, must be rendered unusable.

B. If a Facility desires to be approved to operate an ACS, the Facility shall:

1. Conduct an assessment of the proposed ACS location utilizing the Department's Alternate Care Site Preliminary Assessment Form. Every ACS shall be planned, designed, and equipped to provide adequate accommodations for the care, safety, and treatment of each patient. Buildings selected for ACS should comply with the local building codes and ordinances applicable to the buildings' original intended use. It is the Facility's responsibility to use the assessment process to assure that an ACS building is in compliance with local codes and has the structural soundness and capacity to provide patient treatment contemplated by the Facility.

2. Once a location has been identified, the Department will meet with Facility staff to discuss the details of the ACS. When appropriate, the Department will send written confirmation that the location has been approved for future use as an ACS. The location will retain its status as an ACS unless modifications are made to the site. Modifications that might affect the use of an ACS include, but are not limited to, renovations, construction, demolition, or change of ownership. Any modifications to the site should be reported in writing to the Department.

C. Prior to activating an Alternate Care Site, the Facility shall do the following:

1. Have prior approval of the ACS from the Department as described in Section 903.B; and

2. Provide the following information to the Department:

a. Describe the emergency situation;

b. Explain why activating Internal Medical Surge will not address the situation;

c. Identify the ACS;

d. Outline the maximum number of patients to be treated at the ACS; and

e. Provide an anticipated date for discontinuance of the ACS.

D. After the emergency situation is over, the Facility must notify the Department in writing when the ACS is being deactivated.

E. Other issues such as staffing, food service, equipment requirements, medication management, medical records, and physicians' orders shall be resolved prior to activation by memorandum of agreements, internal policies and procedures, and emergency planning documents.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-16.903

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/28/2024.