Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
The hospital shall be managed effectively and efficiently
in accordance with hospital bylaws and policies and procedures. The daily
management and operational affairs of the hospital shall be the responsibility
of the chief executive officer.
(a)
The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the development,
submission and implementation of all plans to correct operational deficiencies
identified by regulatory agencies on a timely basis and shall report to the
governing body progress in developing and carrying out plans of
correction.
(b)
Personnel.
The chief executive officer develops and implements
personnel policies and practices with regard to at least the following:
(1) the employment of personnel, without
regard to sex, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin,
whose qualifications are commensurate with anticipated job
responsibilities;
(2) the
identification of all hospital personnel, including students and volunteers,
through the use of identification name tags which are clearly visible and are
worn at all times;
(3) the
orientation of all new employees to the hospital and to hospital and personnel
policies;
(4) the development and
implementation of a written plan for inservice training, including orientation
and training for the governing body;
(5) effective July 1, 1989, the provision, at
all times, of intravenous services, phlebotomy services, messenger services,
transporter services, nurse aides, housekeeping services and other ancillary
support services in a manner sufficient to meet patient care needs and to
prevent adverse impact on the delivery of medical and nursing care;
(6) the maintenance of an accurate, current,
and complete personnel record for each hospital employee;
(7) the verification of all applicable
current licensure/certification;
(8) a periodic performance evaluation, based
on a written job description, of each employee;
(9) the provision of employee health
services, in consultation with the medical staff; and
(10) the provision for a physical examination
and recorded medical history for all personnel including all employees, members
of the medical staff, contract staff, students and volunteers, whose activities
are such that a health impairment would pose a potential risk to patients. The
examination shall be of sufficient scope to ensure that no person shall assume
his/her duties unless he/she is free from a health impairment which is of
potential risk to the patient or which might interfere with the performance of
his/her duties, including the habituation or addiction to depressants,
stimulants, narcotics, alcohol or other drugs or substances which may alter the
individual's behavior. The hospital is required to provide such examination
without cost for all employees who are required to have such examination. For
personnel whose activities are such that a health impairment would neither pose
a risk to patients nor interfere with the performance of his/her duties, the
hospital shall conduct a health status assessment in order to determine that
the health and well-being of patients are not jeopardized by the condition of
such individuals. The hospital shall require the following of all personnel,
with the exception of those physicians who are practicing medicine from a
remote location as a condition of employment or affiliation:
(i) a certificate of immunization against
rubella which means:
(a) a document prepared
by a physician, physician's assistant, specialist's assistant, nurse
practitioner, licensed midwife or a laboratory possessing a laboratory permit
issued pursuant to Part 58 of this Title, demonstrating serologic evidence of
rubella antibodies; or
(b) a
document indicating one dose of live virus rubella vaccine was administered on
or after the age of 12 months, showing the product administered and the date of
administration, and prepared by the health practitioner who administered the
immunization; or
(c) a copy of a
document described in clause (a) or (b) of
this subparagraph which comes from a previous employer or the school which the
employee attended as a student; and
(ii) a certificate of immunization against
measles for all personnel born on or after January 1, 1957 which means:
(a) a document prepared by a physician,
physician's assistant, specialist's assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed
midwife or a laboratory possessing a laboratory permit issued pursuant to Part
58 of this Title, demonstrating serologic evidence of measles antibodies;
or
(b) a document indicating two
doses of live virus measles vaccine were administered on or after the age of 12
months and the second dose administered more than 30 days after the first dose
but after 15 months of age showing the product administered and the date of
administration, and prepared by the health practitioner who administered the
immunization; or
(c) a document,
indicating a diagnosis of the employee as having had measles disease prepared
by the physician, physician's assistant/specialist's assistant, licensed
midwife or nurse practitioner who diagnosed the employee's measles;
or
(d) a copy of a document
described in clause (a), (b) or
(c) of this subparagraph which comes from a previous employer
or the school which the employee attended as a student;
(iii) if any licensed physician, physician's
assistant, specialist's assistant, licensed midwife or nurse practitioner
certifies that immunization with measles and/or rubella vaccine may be
detrimental to the employee's health, the requirements of subparagraph (i)
and/or (ii) of this paragraph relating to measles and/or rubella immunization
shall be inapplicable until such immunization is found no longer to be
detrimental to such employee's health. The nature and duration of the medical
exemption must be stated in the employee's employment medical record and must
be in accordance with generally accepted medical standards, (see, for example,
the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Immunization
Practices Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services);
(iv) for all personnel
prior to employment or affiliation, except for personnel with no clinical or
patient contact responsibilities who are located in a building or site with no
patient care services, an initial individual tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment,
symptom evaluation, and TB test (either tuberculin skin test or Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved blood assay for the detection of latent
tuberculosis infection), and annual assessments thereafter. Positive findings
shall require appropriate clinical follow-up. The medical staff shall develop
and implement policies regarding positive findings, including procedures for
facilitating and documenting treatment for latent TB infection where indicated.
Annual TB assessment shall include education, individual risk assessment, and
follow-up tests as indicated.
(v)
documentation of vaccination against influenza, or wearing of a surgical or
procedure mask during the influenza season, for personnel who have not received
the influenza vaccine for the current influenza season, pursuant to section
2.59 of this Title.
(vi) Repealed.
(11) the reassessment of the health status of
all personnel as frequently as necessary, but no less than annually, to ensure
that personnel are free from health impairments which pose potential risk to
patients or personnel or which may interfere with the performance of
duties;
(12) the provision for
emergency health care for all personnel;
(13) the maintenance of medical records for
all personnel including the dates, extent and results of all health assessments
and physical examinations; the results of laboratory tests and X-ray reports;
and records of immunizations, illnesses or injuries;
(14) the requirement that all personnel
report immediately to their supervisor any signs or symptoms of personal
illness. All personnel making such report shall be referred to an appropriate
health care professional for assessment of the potential risk to patients and
personnel. Based on this assessment, the hospital shall authorize appropriate
measures to be taken, including but not limited to removal, reassignment or
return to duty;
(15) the safety and
protection of all personnel and advice to personnel concerning the nature of
toxic substances which they may encounter in the workplace in the course of
their employment or affiliation, in accordance with article 28 of the New York
State Labor Law; and
(16) a policy
that no hospital employee or member of a hospital medical staff shall be
required by the hospital or a member of the hospital staff to participate in an
induced termination of pregnancy who has informed the hospital of his or her
decision not to participate in such act or acts;
(c) The hospital shall have a written
agreement which defines the respective roles and responsibilities of the
hospital and any educational program which utilizes the clinical facilities of
the hospital for the education of students. Such agreement shall recognize the
responsibility of the hospital for activities of the educational program and
students which affect the care of patients.
(d)
Records and reports.
Any information, records or documents provided to the
department shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the Public Health
Law, Mental Hygiene Law, Education Law, and the Public Officers Law in relation
to disclosure. The hospital shall maintain and furnish to the Department of
Health, immediately upon written request, copies of all documents, including
but not limited to:
(1) all records
related to patient care and services;
(2) the certificate of incorporation or the
partnership agreement and, the certificate of conducting business under an
assumed name as required by General Business Law, section 130;
(3) the reports of hospital inspections and
surveys of outside agencies with statements attached specifying the steps taken
to correct any hazards or deficiencies or to carry out the recommendations
contained therein;
(4) all
contracts, leases and other agreements entered into by the governing authority
pertaining to the ownership of the land, building, fixtures and equipment used
in connection with the operation of the hospital;
(5) all licenses, permits and certificates
required by law for the operation of the hospital and also for those
departments and staff members, where required;
(6) operating procedure manuals for all
services or units of the hospital organization. These manuals shall be reviewed
at least biennially by the hospital or more frequently as determined
appropriate by each service or unit and be made available to all services and
units of the hospital;
(7) all
bylaws, rules and regulations of the hospital and all amendments thereto; a
listing of the names and addresses and titles of offices held for all members
of the governing authority and revisions thereof; a copy of the bylaws, rules
and regulations of the medical staff and all amendments of the medical staff
and revisions thereof; a copy of the current annual report and financial
statements of the hospital;
(8)
copies of complaints received regarding patient care and documentation of the
follow-up actions taken as a result of the investigation of these
complaints;
(9) copies of all
incident reports completed pursuant to section
405.8 of this Part;
(10) a listing of the names and titles of the
members of each committee of the hospital;
(11) written minutes of each committee's
proceedings. These minutes shall include at least the following:
(i) attendance;
(ii) date and duration of the
meeting;
(iii) synopsis of issues
discussed and actions or recommendations made;
(12) whenever the commissioner determines
that there exists an outbreak of a communicable disease of high public health
consequence pursuant to Part 2 of this Title or other public health emergency,
such syndromic and disease surveillance data as the commissioner deems
appropriate, which the hospital shall submit in the manner and form determined
by the commissioner; and
(13) any
record required to be kept by the provisions of this Part.
(e)
Other reporting
requirements.
(1) The hospital shall
report in writing to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct with a copy to
the appropriate area administrator of the department's Office of Health Systems
Management within 30 days of the occurrence of denial, suspension, restriction,
termination or curtailment of training, employment, association or professional
privileges or the denial of certification of completion of training of any
physician, registered physician's assistant or registered specialist's
assistant licensed/registered by the New York State Department of Education for
reasons related in any way to any of the following:
(i) alleged mental or physical impairment,
incompetence, malpractice, misconduct or endangerment of patient safety or
welfare;
(ii) voluntary or
involuntary resignation or withdrawal of association or of privileges with the
hospital to avoid the imposition of disciplinary measures;
(iii) the receipt of information concerning a
conviction of a misdemeanor or felony. The report shall contain:
(a) the name and address of the
individual;
(b) the profession and
license number;
(c) the date of the
hospital's action;
(d) a
description of the action taken; and
(e) the reason for the hospital's action or
the nature of the action or conduct which lead to the resignation or withdrawal
and the date thereof; and
(iv) the hospital shall establish policies
and implement procedures to ensure compliance with these reporting
requirements.
(2) The
hospital shall furnish to the Department of Education or the Department of
Health for individuals licensed by the department within 30 days of occurrence,
a written report of any denial, withholding, curtailment, restriction,
suspension or termination of any membership or professional privileges in,
employment by, or any type of association with a hospital relating to an
individual who is a health profession student serving in a clinical clerkship,
an unlicensed health professional serving in a clinical fellowship or
residency, or an unlicensed health professional practicing under a limited
permit or a state licensee, such as an audiologist, licensed master social
worker (LMSW), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), dental hygienist,
dentist, medical laboratory technologist, nurse, occupational therapist,
ophthalmic dispenser, optometrist, pharmacist, physical therapist, podiatrist,
psychologist, radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, respiratory
therapist, respiratory therapy technician or speech-language pathologist for
reasons related in any way to any of the following reasons:
(i) alleged mental or physical impairment,
incompetence, malpractice, misconduct or endangerment of patient safety or
welfare;
(ii) voluntary or
involuntary resignation or withdrawal of association, employment or privileges
with the hospital to avoid imposition of disciplinary measures; or
(iii) the receipt of information concerning a
conviction of a misdemeanor or felony. The report shall contain:
(a) the name and address of the
individual;
(b) the profession and
license number;
(c) the date of the
hospitals action;
(d) a description
of the action taken; and
(e) the
reason for the hospital's action or the nature or the action or conduct which
lead to the resignation or withdrawal and the date thereof.
(3) At the time that a
physician on a hospital's staff is granted admitting privileges or before or at
the time the physician admits his or her first patient, each hospital shall
furnish to such physician the following notice, which each physician on the
hospital staff must sign and date. The signed notices shall be kept on file by
the hospital. The notice to physicians shall state:
"Notice to physicians. Payment to hospitals for inpatient
services is based in part on each patient's principal and secondary diagnoses
and the major procedures performed on the patient, and for neonates, upon
birthweight or admission weight as well. This data must be documented by the
patient's medical record. Anyone who misrepresents, falsifies, or conceals this
information may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or civil penalty under
applicable Federal and New York State laws."
(4) At the time of discharge, for categories
of patients determined by the commissioner, the chief executive officer shall
provide the department information in a manner and on a form specified by the
department.
(f)
Hospital management contracts.
(1) For the purposes of this Part, a
management contract is an agreement between a hospital governing body and a
contracting entity for the contracting entity to assume the primary
responsibility for managing the day-to-day operations of an entire facility or
a defined patient care unit of the facility. A management contract shall not
include:
(i) a contract solely for the
provision of professional clinical services;
(ii) an employment contract; or
(iii) a contract for the provision of
administrative services to a defined patient care unit of a facility where all
of the following factors are present:
(a) the
hospital retains responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the defined
patient care unit;
(b) the
contracting entity has no authority to hire or fire any hospital
employee;
(c) the contracting
entity does not maintain and control the books and records of the defined
patient care unit;
(d) the
contracting entity has no authority to incur any liability on behalf of the
facility; and
(e) the contracting
entity has no authority to adopt or enforce policies regarding the operation of
the defined patient care unit.
(2) Management contracts shall be effective
only with the prior written consent of the commissioner and shall include the
following:
(i) a description of the proposed
roles of the governing body during the period of the proposed management
contract. The description shall clearly reflect retention by the governing
authority of ongoing responsibility for statutory and regulatory
compliance;
(ii) a provision that
clearly recognizes that the responsibilities of the facility's governing body
are in no way obviated by entering into a management contract and that any
powers not specifically delegated to the contracting entity through the
provisions of the contract remain with the governing body; and
(iii) a plan for assuring maintenance of the
fiscal stability, the level of services provided and the quality of care
rendered by the facility during the term of the management contract.
(3) The governing body shall
retain sufficient authority and control to discharge its responsibility under
this Part. The following elements of control shall not be delegated to a
managing authority:
(i) direct independent
authority to appoint and discharge the chief executive officer or other key
management employees;
(ii)
independent control of the books and records;
(iii) authority over the disposition of
assets and the authority to incur on behalf of the facility liabilities not
normally associated with the day-to-day operation of a facility; and
(iv) independent adoption of policies
affecting the delivery of health care services.
(4) A governing body wishing to enter into a
management contract shall submit a proposed written contract to the department,
at lest 60 days prior to the intended effective date, unless a shorter period
is approved in writing by the commissioner, due to extraordinary circumstances.
In addition, the governing body shall also submit, within the same time frame,
the following:
(i) documentation demonstrating
that the proposed managing authority holds all necessary approvals to do
business in New York State;
(ii)
documentation of the goals and objectives of the management contract including
a mechanism for periodic evaluation by the governing body of the effectiveness
of the arrangement in meeting those goals and objectives;
(iii) evidence of the managing authority's
financial stability;
(iv)
information necessary to determine that the character and competence of the
proposed managing authority, and its principals, officers and directors, is
satisfactory, including evidence that all facilities it has managed in New York
State have provided a substantially consistent high level of care in accordance
with section
600.2 of this Title, during the
term of their management contract or operating certificate; and
(v) evidence that it is financially feasible
for the facility to enter into the proposed management contract for the term of
the contract and for a period of one year following expiration, recognizing
that the costs of the contract are subject to all applicable provisions of Part
86 of this Title. To demonstrate evidence of financial feasibility, the
facility shall submit projected operating and capital budgets for the required
periods. Such budgets shall be consistent with previous certified financial
statements and be subject to future audits.
(5) During the period between a facility's
submission of a request for initial approval of a management contract and
disposition of that request, a facility may not enter into any arrangement for
management contract services other than a written interim consultative
agreement with the proposed managing authority. Any interim agreement shall be
consistent with the provisions of this section and shall be submitted to the
department no later than five days after its effective date.
(6) The term of a management contract shall
be limited to three years and may be renewed for additional periods not to
exceed three years only when authorized by the commissioner. The commissioner
shall approve an application for renewal provided that compliance with this
section and the following provisions can be demonstrated:
(i) that the goals and objectives of the
contract have been met within specified time frames;
(ii) that the quality of care provided by the
facility during the term of the contract has been maintained or has improved;
and
(iii) that the level of service
to meet community needs and patient access to care and services has been
maintained or improved.
(7) A contract for which an application for
renewal has been submitted on a timely basis to the commissioner may be
extended on an interim basis until the commissioner approves or disapproves the
application for renewal.
(8) A
facility's governing body shall, within the terms of the contract, retain the
authority to discharge the managing authority and its employees from their
positions at the facility with or without cause on not more than 90 days'
notice. In such event, the facility shall notify the department in writing at
the time the managing authority is notified. The facility's governing body
shall provide a plan for the operation of the facility subsequent to the
discharge to be submitted with the notification to the department.
(g) Whenever the commissioner
determines that there exists an outbreak of a communicable disease of high
public health consequence pursuant to Part 2 of this Title or other public
health emergency, the commissioner may direct general hospitals, as defined in
Article 28 of the public health law, and consistent with the federal Emergency
Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), to accept patients pursuant to such
procedures and conditions as the commissioner may determine
appropriate.