Process for Initial Designation

Process for Initial Designation 1. The participation of acute care facilities in the OB SOC is mandatory; however, participating hospitals must be appropriately designated according to ability to care for maternal or neonatal patients – designation is a process of verifying that appropriate systems, staff, and resources are available 2. Once a completed application for maternal or neonatal center is received, the Department will work with hospital staff to schedule the date for the designation survey. 3. The Department shall provide for the survey of the applicant hospital, provided that its application has been formally approved by the Department, on the date scheduled and indicated in the Department's acceptance letter to the applicant hospital, unless the Department provides written notification with justification of change to the applicant hospital no later than 14 days prior to the survey date; or the applicant hospital provides written request with justification for a change in the survey date to the Department no later than 30 days prior to the survey date. 4. Results of facility surveys will be provided by the Department in writing to the applicant hospital. Details related to the hospital's survey will be considered confidential and will not be released 5. Maternal Centers currently verified by The Joint Commission Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program may request reciprocity for Department designation as a Maternal Center. The Department must receive the complete report from the accrediting organization, including any/all corrective action plans (CAP). 6. After completion of a designation survey, the team conducting the survey will make a recommendation to the Department for designation. The Director of the OEMSACS will present the survey report and the team’s recommendation to the state OB System Medical Director (OBSMD). OBSMD may seek advice or further recommendation from the Mississippi OB System of Care Advisory Committee during its executive session, if the OBSMD disagrees with the recommendations of the team; otherwise the OBSMD may make direct recommendations to the State Health Officer. 7. The Director of OEMSACS will prepare a memorandum detailing the recommendations of the team and signed by the OBSMD for the State Health Officer and will forward the memorandum and the designation letter to the State Health Officer for signature. Once signed, the letter will be sent to the hospital receiving the survey. The Department will inform the applicant hospital of the status of the application within 14 days of the advisory committee meeting.