(a) Trauma center accreditation.--The foundation shall develop a private voluntary accreditation program to:
(1) Establish standards for the operation of trauma centers that receive or seek to receive Commonwealth funds, adopting, at a minimum, current guidelines for trauma centers defined by the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, Level III trauma centers shall meet accreditation criteria for Level III trauma centers imposed by the act of March 24, 2004, (P.L.148, No.15), known as the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Stabilization Act. For the purpose of reaccreditation, the standards shall require, at a minimum, that each adult Level I and Level II trauma center treat at least 600 severe and urgent injury cases per year.
(2) Evaluate a hospital making application to the foundation to determine if the hospital meets the foundation's standards. An evaluation shall include hospital site visits by accreditation survey teams composed of independent, qualified persons selected by the foundation.
(3) Issue certificates of accreditation to hospitals that meet the accreditation standards. Certificates of accreditation shall be valid for a period not to exceed three years. Certificates of accreditation may be revoked by the foundation if it is determined that the trauma center no longer meets accreditation standards as set forth in this chapter.
(4) Establish an appeal mechanism for reconsideration of accreditation decisions.
(b) Judicial review.--A person aggrieved by a determination of the foundation under this section may file a petition for review within 30 days in an appropriate court of common pleas.
(c) Prohibition.--No hospital shall hold itself out as a trauma center unless it has a current certificate of accreditation issued under this section.
(d) Board of directors.--The board of directors of the foundation shall consist of the following voting members: five representatives of State organizations representing physicians; five representatives of State organizations representing hospitals; three representatives of State organizations representing registered professional nurses; two representatives of other Statewide EMS organizations having expertise in the delivery of trauma services; the chairman and minority chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate or designees chosen from among the members of the committee; the chairman and minority chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives or designees chosen from among the members of the committee; and the Secretary of Health or a designee. The bylaws of the foundation shall identify a method to select members to achieve professional and geographic balance on the board of directors. Terms of office shall be limited to three years.
(e) Data collection.--The foundation shall compile and maintain statistics on mortality and morbidity on multisystem trauma victims. The data collection shall be coordinated and performed in conjunction with State data collection activities.
(July 2, 2019, P.L.359, No.54, eff. imd.)
2019 Amendment. Act 54 amended subsec. (a)(1).
Cross References. Section 8107 is referred to in sections 8105, 8107.1 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 81 - Emergency Medical Services System
Section 8101 - Short title of chapter
Section 8102 - Declaration of policy
Section 8104 - Emergency medical services system programs
Section 8105 - Duties of department
Section 8106 - Emergency medical services patient care reports
Section 8107 - Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation
Section 8107.1 - Accreditation of trauma centers
Section 8107.2 - Submission of list
Section 8107.4 - Notification of trauma center closure
Section 8107.6 - Certification and financial report
Section 8108 - State Advisory Board
Section 8109 - Regional emergency medical services councils
Section 8111 - Comprehensive plan
Section 8112 - Contracts and grants
Section 8112.1 - Scholarships for recruitment, training and retention
Section 8113 - Emergency medical services providers
Section 8114 - Emergency medical responders
Section 8115 - Emergency medical technicians
Section 8116 - Advanced emergency medical technicians
Section 8118 - Prehospital registered nurses
Section 8119 - Prehospital physician extenders
Section 8120 - Prehospital emergency medical services physicians
Section 8121 - Certification sanctions
Section 8122 - Emergency medical services vehicle operators
Section 8123 - Suspension of certification
Section 8124 - Emergency medical services instructors
Section 8125 - Medical director of emergency medical services agency
Section 8126 - Medical command physicians and facility medical directors
Section 8127 - Medical command facilities
Section 8128 - Receiving facilities
Section 8129 - Emergency medical services agencies
Section 8130 - Advanced life support ambulances
Section 8132 - Advanced life support squad vehicles
Section 8133 - Basic life support ambulances
Section 8134 - Basic life support squad vehicles
Section 8135 - Quick response services
Section 8136 - Special operations emergency medical services
Section 8137 - First aid and other services
Section 8138 - Other vehicles and services
Section 8139 - Stretcher and wheelchair vehicles
Section 8140 - Conditional temporary licenses
Section 8141 - Plans of correction
Section 8142 - Emergency medical services agency license sanctions
Section 8151 - Limitations on liability
Section 8153 - Support of emergency medical services
Section 8154 - Prohibited acts
Section 8155 - Surrender of license, accreditation or certification