NAC442.480. Provision of certain new services: Requirements for approval; period of approval.

     1. A hospital may request the Division’s approval to provide a new service for the level II specialty care of neonates after the hospital has operated a level I basic care facility for at least 6 months. A hospital may request the Division’s approval to provide a new service for the level III subspecialty care of neonates after the hospital has operated a level II specialty care facility for at least 6 months. The hospital may not provide a new service for the level II specialty care or level III subspecialty care of neonates before it has received written approval for the service from the Division.

     2. The Division shall send written notification to the hospital within 45 working days after receiving the application. The notice must state:

     (a) Whether the application is complete; and

     (b) If the application is not complete, what is needed for completion.

     3. The Division shall not approve an application for the provision of a new service for the level II specialty care or level III subspecialty care of neonates before it receives verification of the findings of the site-inspection team that the hospital complies with the provisions of this chapter.

     4. If a hospital has applied for a designation as a level II specialty care facility or level III subspecialty care facility, the site-inspection team must include:

     (a) A neonatologist;

     (b) An obstetrician;

     (c) A nurse manager of a level III subspecialty care facility; and

     (d) A health facilities surveyor who is employed by the Division.

Ê A hospital that has applied for permission from the Division to provide a new service of level II specialty care or level III subspecialty care for neonates may request the disqualification of any member of the site-inspection team if the member is not qualified to serve on the team or has a conflict of interest. If the hospital proves the grounds for disqualification, that member must be disqualified from serving on the team.

     5. The review by the site-inspection team must include an inspection and appraisal of:

     (a) The facilities and equipment for neonatal care;

     (b) The services to be provided for neonatal care;

     (c) The qualifications of the personnel providing neonatal care;

     (d) The programs of training relating to neonatal medicine for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, nurses specializing in community health, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, specialists in the development of children, nutritionists and social workers within the area the hospital serves;

     (e) The plan for employment of professional personnel and the organizational structure for providing neonatal care;

     (f) The records and procedures for maintaining records used for providing neonatal services;

     (g) The system for referrals to or from the program;

     (h) The plan to provide continuing education of personnel providing neonatal services in hospitals which make referrals to the level III subspecialty care facility;

     (i) The arrangements for transportation to and from the level III subspecialty care facility;

     (j) The arrangements for educating all sources of referral in the identification and stabilization of any neonate who needs to be referred; and

     (k) Any other documents and materials required by the Division.

     6. The costs of the inspection by the site-inspection team for level II specialty care facilities and level III subspecialty care facilities must be paid by the hospital that was inspected. The Division shall apply the application fee collected pursuant to subsection 3 of NAC 442.411 to the satisfaction, in whole or in part, of such costs.

     7. The Division shall notify the hospital of its decision concerning the application within 15 working days after the Division receives the findings of the site-inspection team. An approval by the Division is effective for 5 years.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, 7-16-85, eff. 8-1-85; A 9-1-89; 9-16-92; R064-04, 8-4-2004)