Pennsylvania Code
Title 28 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Part I - General Health
Chapter 7 - PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS UNDER THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES MALPRACTICE ACT
Section 7.2 - Minimum standards

(1) There is a governing authority legally responsible for the conduct of the center, a majority of the membership of which are residents of the area served by the center, are potential users of the service and are not employed by and do not have any other financial interest in the operation of the center.

(2) The center is managed by a specifically designated person responsible for operating the center in accordance with policies clearly enunciated by the Board of Directors of the corporation.

(3) Clear, precise, and complete financial records and other business records, such as Board meeting minutes, are kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting and business procedures.

(4) Clear, precise, and complete medical records are kept which include a record of a basic history and physical examination, a record of presenting complaints, laboratory studies, diagnoses, prescribed therapy, medications, progress and evaluation of the therapy prescribed, and summaries and evaluations of any and all specialized health services, including hospitalization, for which patients have been referred outside the center, and all entries in the records are dated and authenticated.

(5) When appropriate specialized services are not available at the primary health center, the patient is provided with a choice of referral to qualified specialists to whom the medical records of the patient are made available. If the primary health center is part of a closed panel group practice making its services available through a prepayment mechanism, such as a health maintenance organization, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to obligate that organization to pay for specialist services if and when a patient chooses to be referred outside the panel.

(6) Patients are accorded an opportunity to have their own medical records explained to them by an appropriate health care professional as designated by a physician and qualified by training and skill to accurately interpret the records and counsel patients.

(7) The facilities in which the services are rendered are safe, sanitary, and adequately equipped.

(8) There is an organized medical or professional staff responsible for maintaining accepted standards of medical, surgical, or health-related care and for requiring staff members to participate in recognized continuing education programs.