§ 23-17-10 Regulations, inspections, and investigations – Certain hospitals required to provide on-premises coverage by physician – Uniform reports – Data systems. – (a) The licensing agency, with the advice of the health services council, shall after a public hearing pursuant to reasonable notice adopt, amend, promulgate, and enforce rules, regulations, and standards with respect to each category of health care facility to be licensed under this chapter that may be designed to further the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter in promoting safe and adequate treatment of individuals in health care facilities in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare. Provided, further, however, that all licensed medical, surgical, or obstetrical hospitals (excepting those hospitals as defined in § 23-17-2, as amended, which maintain an on-premises emergency room staffed by a licensed physician, resident, or intern at all times) shall be required to protect their patients by providing on-premises coverage by a licensed physician, resident or intern at all times.
(2) In developing regulations for home nursing care providers and home care providers, the director shall consider and adopt, where appropriate, standards of relevant national accrediting bodies. The director shall make or cause to be made quality improvement and licensure inspections of each licensed home nursing care provider and home care provider at a minimum of once in a twelve (12) month period. These inspections shall include but not be limited to: home visits; patient surveys; and employee interviews.
(b) The licensing agency shall make or cause to be made any
inspections and investigations that it deems necessary including medical
records. The licensing agency, with the advice of the health services council,
shall also adopt, amend, promulgate, and enforce rules and regulations to
provide for a uniform system of reporting detailed financial and statistical
data pertaining to the operation, services, and facilities of the health care
facilities and the periodic reporting shall, in accordance with the rules and
regulations, be concerned with, but not limited to, unit cost utilization
charges of health care facility services, financial condition of health care
facilities, and quality of health care facility care. The uniform reports shall
also include institutional plans that shall be prescribed in accordance with
rules and regulations promulgated by the licensing agency with the advice of
the health services council. Each health care facility shall establish and
maintain data systems to meet the requirements of any uniform system of
periodic reporting that may be prescribed in accordance with the provisions of
this section. The data shall be made available and be considered by the state
agency concerned with the reimbursement and/or utilization of health care
facility services.
(P.L. 1932, ch. 1956, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 1; P.L. 1948, ch.
2112, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 259, § 9; P.L. 1949, ch. 2387, § 1;
G.L. 1956, § 23-16-10; P.L. 1968, ch. 171, § 3; P.L. 1972, ch. 72,
§ 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 90, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 269, § 5; P.L. 1979,
ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-17-10; P.L. 1979, ch. 109, § 1;
P.L. 1996, ch. 310, § 2.)