Notification

(a) Each hospital shall notify the regional emergency medical services system control when treatment services are at maximum capacity and that OAC 310:667 OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 127 September 13, 2019 emergency patients should be diverted to another hospital (divert status). If the hospital is located in an area in which no regional emergency medical services system control is active, the hospital shall notify each entity providing emergency medical services, such as ambulance services, in their catchment area. Each hospital shall maintain written records documenting the date and time of the start and end of each interval of divert status. (b) Each hospital shall develop and maintain written criteria that describe the conditions under which any one or all of the hospital's emergency services are deemed to be at maximum capacity. (c) A hospital classified at Level I or Level II for Trauma and Emergency Operative Services or as a Primary Stroke Center shall notify the Department in writing or by facsimile or other electronic means within twenty-four (24) hours of the complete loss of verified status as a Level I or Level II trauma center by ACS COT, or as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. (d) A hospital shall notify the Department in writing or by facsimile or other electronic means within twenty-four hours (24) if it is unable to provide any classified emergency medical service at the current classified level, such as through the unavailability of professional personnel or required equipment which is beyond the scope of the facility's normal divert protocols. If such an interruption of service is expected to be brief and the hospital notifies the Department promptly, at the discretion of the Commissioner, it may not be necessary to permanently reclassify the service to a lower Level. (e) A hospital may request a permanent change in classification for any classified emergency medical service by notifying the Department in writing and submitting a new Emergency Medical Services Classification Report (ODH Form 911) at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the change.