Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Chapter 111-8 - HEALTHCARE FACILITY REGULATION
Subject 111-8-4 - AMBULATORY SURGICAL TREATMENT CENTERS
Rule 111-8-4-.03 - Organization and Administration

(1) Each ambulatory surgical treatment center shall be organized with an identifiable governing body that establishes the objectives, sets the policies and assumes full legal responsibilities for the overall conduct of the center and for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the center. The membership of the governing body shall be identified in the application to the Department for licensure.

(2) The ownership of the center shall be fully disclosed in the application to the Department. This disclosure shall include the names and addresses of all corporate officers and any person(s) having a five percent (5.0%) or more financial interest.

(3) The governing body of the center shall be responsible for appointing the professional staff and shall establish effective mechanisms for quality assurance and to ensure the accountability of the center's medical and/or dental staff and other professional personnel.

(4) The organizational objectives of the ambulatory surgical treatment center shall be clearly stated in the procedures and policies of the governing body and on the application for licensure.

(5) The governing body shall inform the Department of the name(s) of the administrator(s) to whom the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the center is delegated, including the implementation of rules and policies adopted by the governing body.

(6) Each center shall be at all times under the immediate personal and daily supervision and control of the administrator or his designated representative, whose authority, duties and responsibilities shall be defined in writing and which shall be available to the Department upon request.

(7) The Department shall be notified with a new application, or written amendment to the current application, when there are changes in location, ownership, management or operational objectives.

(8) Individual patients shall be discharged within twenty-four (24) hours of admission, in an ambulatory condition which will not endanger their continued well-being, or shall be transferred to a licensed hospital or other treatment facility. There shall be written procedures and assigned responsibilities for implementing such procedures, including provisions for transportation. Patients requiring emergency services shall be accompanied by a member of the professional staff of the center.

(9) Each center shall have an organized professional staff which is responsible for the development of patient care policies and procedures and for maintaining the level of professional performance through a continuing program of staff education, review and evaluation of patient care.

(10) Each center shall at all times have a professional director designated by the governing body, who shall be responsible for the direction and coordination of all professional aspects of the center programs.

(11) The practitioners applying for staff privileges shall be required to sign an agreement to abide by the staff bylaws and required State laws and rules and regulations.

(12) Nothing in these rules and regulations shall prevent a licensed hospital from organizing and providing an ambulatory surgical treatment service as a part of a licensed hospital under the controlling authority of a hospital board, so long as all hospital licensure standards are met and the provided services are included in the application under which the hospital license is granted.