Sec. 254.151. MINIMUM STANDARDS

(a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter, including minimum standards for:

(1) the construction and design of the facility, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation, and other design standards necessary to ensure the health and safety of patients;

(2) the number, qualifications, and organization of the professional staff and other personnel;

(3) the administration of the facility;

(4) the equipment essential to the health and welfare of the patients;

(5) the sanitary and hygienic conditions within the facility and its surroundings;

(6) the requirements for the contents, maintenance, and release of medical records;

(7) the minimal level of care and standards for denial of care;

(8) the provision of laboratory and radiological services;

(9) the distribution and administration of drugs and controlled substances;

(10) a quality assurance program for patient care;

(11) disclosure, if applicable, of the following:

(A) the name and social security number of the sole proprietor, if the facility is a sole proprietor;

(B) the name and social security number of each general partner who is an individual, if the facility is a partnership;

(C) the name and social security number of any individual who has an ownership interest of more than 25 percent in the corporation, if the facility is a corporation; and

(D) the name and license numbers of any physicians licensed by the Texas Medical Board who have a financial interest in the facility or any entity which has an ownership interest in the facility;

(12) transfer protocols for patients requiring advanced medical care at a hospital; and

(13) any other aspect of the operation of a facility that the executive commissioner considers necessary to protect the facility's patients and the public.

(b) In adopting the rules required under Subsection (a) concerning transfer protocols, the executive commissioner must consult with physicians who provide emergency care, medical consultant organizations, and organizations representing hospitals licensed in this state.

(c) The minimum standards under this section shall apply to facilities operating 24 hours a day and 7 days per week and facilities operating less than 24 hours a day and 7 days per week.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1273 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.