Bill 2550

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2550
Ratification Number:       319
Act Number:                300
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to license requirements for the
                           operation of hospitals

(A300, R319, H2550)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-7-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPERATION OF HOSPITALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH HOSPITAL MUST HAVE A SINGLE ORGANIZED MEDICAL STAFF AND TO PROVIDE THE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE MEDICAL STAFF.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

License requirements for hospitals

SECTION 1. Section 44-7-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 68 of 1983, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-7-310. No institution which maintains and operates organized facilities for the diagnosis, treatment, or care of two or more nonrelated persons suffering from illness, injury, or deformity or where obstetrical or other care is rendered over a period exceeding twenty-four hours may be established, conducted, or maintained in the State without first obtaining a license in the manner provided in this article, except those facilities licensed by the South Carolina Mental Health Commission. The Department shall also regulate and license residential care facilities providing care for nonambulatory persons.

Each hospital must have a single organized medical staff that has the overall responsibility for the quality of medical care provided to patients. Medical staff membership must be limited to doctors of medicine or osteopathy who are currently licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy by the State Board of Medical Examiners, dentists licensed to practice dentistry by the State Board of Dentistry and podiatrists licensed to practice podiatry by the State Board of Podiatry Examiners. No individual is automatically entitled to membership on the medical staff or to the exercise of any clinical privilege merely because he is licensed to practice in any state, because he is a member of any professional organization, because he is certified by any clinical examining board, or because he has clinical privileges or staff membership at another hospital without meeting the criteria for membership established by the governing body of the respective hospital. Patients of podiatrists and dentists who are members of the medical staff of a hospital must be coadmitted by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is a member of the medical staff of the hospital who shall be responsible for the general medical care of the patient. Oral surgeons who have successfully completed a postgraduate program in oral surgery accredited by a nationally recognized accredited body approved by the United States Office of Education may admit patients without the requirement of coadmission if permitted by the bylaws of the hospital and medical staff."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.