Sec. 30.09.12.02. Requirements for a Neonatal Commercial Ambulance Service

A. A commercial ambulance service wishing to provide neonatal ambulance services shall comply with the requirements of this chapter in addition to the other applicable requirements of this subtitle.

B. An ambulance service transporting neonates shall obtain a neonatal commercial ambulance service license.

C. An applicant for a neonatal commercial ambulance service license shall submit an application to SOCALR on the required form.

D. A completed application form shall be accompanied by documentation which states to SOCALR's satisfaction that the commercial ambulance service has retained:

(1) Two or more registered nurses who:

(a) Meet the requirements of the Board of Nursing to provide nursing care to neonates during interfacility transport; and

(b) Agree to assume responsibility for patient care during the transport process; and

(2) One or more physicians who are board certified or are active candidates for board certification in neonatology who:

(a) Possess current knowledge of the Maryland EMS System as required in COMAR 30.03.03.03B(4), as well as current knowledge of:

(i) The effects of transport on the neonate; and

(ii) The operation of neonatal transport equipment and ambulance communications equipment; and

(b) Working with a neonatal or perinatal center, agree to:

(i) Serve as medical director for the neonatal service;

(ii) Provide medical direction to the commercial ambulance service's personnel-related neonatal care;

(iii) Provide training as required in neonatal care; and

(iv) Participate in a quality assurance program.

E. A licensed neonatal commercial ambulance service shall immediately advise SOCALR of any change in the medical director named in §D(2) of this regulation.

F. A licensed neonatal commercial ambulance service may not transport a neonate from one hospital to another for a higher level of care unless the admitting hospital:

(1) Is a perinatal center;

(2) Is a neonatal center;

(3) Before designation of perinatal centers by the EMS Board, has a certificate of need issued by the Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission for its neonatal intensive care unit or approval from Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission for a neonatal intensive care unit; or

(4) Before the EMS Board has completed the process of entering into an agreement with an out-of-State hospital to serve as an out-of-State perinatal referral center, possesses all government approvals required to operate a neonatal intensive care unit under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is located including, if required, a certificate of need and all necessary licenses.

G. Neonates being transported to a perinatal center, pediatric unit, or pediatric intensive care unit or being transferred from one neonatal intensive care unit to another may be transported by a specialty care transport team with age-appropriate competencies and equipment or aneonatal transport team.

H. Neonates who have been discharged to home and are returning to a neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit from a referring hospital may be transported by a specialty care transport team with age-appropriate competencies and equipment or a neonatal transport team.

I. Neonates being transported from a neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit to another acute care hospital or rehabilitation hospital or long-term care shall be screened by a specialty care team with age-appropriate competencies and equipment or neonatal team prior to being transported.