To amend sections 2317.54, 3702.30, 3702.31, 3727.09, 3727.10, 4765.01, and 4765.50 and to enact sections 3702.32, 3727.101, and 3727.102 of the Revised Code relative to sanctions for a health care facility's violations of licensing requirements and quality standards, injunctions to enjoin such violations, informed consent compliance requirements for ambulatory surgical facility physicians, expanded health care facility rule making authority of the Director of Health, and implementation of requirements applicable to trauma centers.

Section 1. That sections 2317.54, 3702.30, 3702.31, 3727.09, 3727.10, 4765.01, and 4765.50 be amended and sections 3702.32, 3727.101, and 3727.102 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 2317.54.  No hospital, home health agency, ambulatory surgical facility, or provider of a hospice care program shall be held liable for a physician's failure to obtain an informed consent from his the physician's patient prior to a surgical or medical procedure or course of procedures, unless the physician is an employee of the hospital, home health agency, ambulatory surgical facility or provider of a hospice care program.

Written consent to a surgical or medical procedure or course of procedures shall, to the extent that it fulfills all the requirements in divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, be presumed to be valid and effective, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence that the person who sought such consent was not acting in good faith, or that the execution of the consent was induced by fraudulent misrepresentation of material facts, or that the person executing the consent was not able to communicate effectively in spoken and written English or any other language in which the consent is written. Except as herein provided, no evidence shall be admissible to impeach, modify, or limit the authorization for performance of the procedure or procedures set forth in such written consent.

(A) The consent sets forth in general terms the nature and purpose of the procedure or procedures, and what the procedures are expected to accomplish, together with the reasonably known risks, and, except in emergency situations, sets forth the names of the physicians who shall perform the intended surgical procedures.

(B) The person making the consent acknowledges that such disclosure of information has been made and that all questions asked about the procedure or procedures have been answered in a satisfactory manner.

(C) The consent is signed by the patient for whom the procedure is to be performed, or, if the patient for any reason including, but not limited to, competence, infancy, or the fact that, at the latest time that the consent is needed, the patient is under the influence of alcohol, hallucinogens, or drugs, lacks legal capacity to consent, by a person who has legal authority to consent on behalf of such patient in such circumstances.

Any use of a consent form that fulfills the requirements stated in divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section has no effect on the common law rights and liabilities, including the right of a physician to obtain the oral or implied consent of a patient to a medical procedure, that may exist as between physicians and patients on July 28, 1975.

As used in this section the term "hospital" has the meaning set forth in division (D) of section 2305.11 of the Revised Code; "home health agency" has the meaning set forth in division (A) of former section 3701.88 of the Revised Code; "ambulatory surgical facility" has the meaning as in division (A) of section 3702.30 of the Revised Code; and "hospice care program" has the meaning set forth in division (A) of section 3712.01 of the Revised Code. The provisions of this division apply to hospitals, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and doctors of podiatric medicine.

Sec. 3702.30.  (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facility, whether or not part of the same organization as a hospital, that is located in a building distinct from another in which inpatient care is provided, and to which any of the following apply:

(a) Outpatient surgery is routinely performed in the facility, and the facility functions separately from a hospital's inpatient surgical service and from the offices of private physicians, podiatrists, and dentists;.

(b) Anesthesia is administered in the facility by an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist, and the facility functions separately from a hospital's inpatient surgical service and from the offices of private physicians, podiatrists, and dentists;.

(c) The facility applies to be certified by the United States health care financing administration as an ambulatory surgical center for purposes of reimbursement under Part B of the medicare program, Part B of Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended;.

(d) The facility applies to be certified by a national accrediting body approved by the health care financing administration for purposes of deemed compliance with the conditions for participating in the medicare program as an ambulatory surgical center;.

(e) The facility bills or receives from any third-party payer, governmental health care program, or other person or government entity any ambulatory surgical facility fee that is billed or paid in addition to any fee for professional services;.

(f) The facility is held out to any person or government entity as an ambulatory surgical facility or similar facility by means of signage, advertising, or other promotional efforts.

"Ambulatory surgical facility" does not include a hospital emergency department.

(2) "Ambulatory surgical facility fee" means a fee for certain overhead costs associated with providing surgical services in an outpatient setting. A fee is an ambulatory surgical facility fee only if it directly or indirectly pays for costs associated with any of the following:

(a) Use of operating and recovery rooms, preparation areas, and waiting rooms and lounges for patients and relatives;

(b) Administrative functions, record keeping, housekeeping, utilities, and rent;

(c) Services provided by nurses, orderlies, technical personnel, and others involved in patient care related to providing surgery.

"Ambulatory surgical facility fee" does not include any additional payment in excess of a professional fee that is provided to encourage physicians, podiatrists, and dentists to perform certain surgical procedures in their office or their group practice's office rather than a health care facility, if the purpose of the additional fee is to compensate for additional cost incurred in performing office-based surgery.

(3) "Governmental health care program" has the same meaning as in section 4731.65 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Health care facility" means any of the following:

(a) An ambulatory surgical facility;

(b) A freestanding dialysis center;

(c) A freestanding inpatient rehabilitation facility;

(d) A freestanding birthing center;

(e) A freestanding radiation therapy center;

(f) A freestanding or mobile diagnostic imaging center.

(5) "Metropolitan statistical area" has the same meaning as in section 3702.51 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Third-party payer" has the same meaning as in section 3901.38 of the Revised Code.

(B) By rule adopted in accordance with sections 3702.12 and 3702.13 of the Revised Code, the director of health shall establish quality standards for health care facilities. The standards may incorporate accreditation standards or other quality standards established by any entity recognized by the director. The rules shall be adopted so as to cause the standards to take effect on March 31, 1996.

(C) Every ambulatory surgical facility shall require that each physician who practices at the facility comply with all relevant provisions in the Revised Code that relate to the obtaining of informed consent from a patient.

(D) The director shall issue a license to each health care facility that makes application for a license and demonstrates to the director that it meets the quality standards established by the rules adopted under division (B) of this section, except that if a health care facility located in a metropolitan statistical area applies for a license on or after March 31, 1996, and at the time the license is to take effect the quality standards are not yet in effect, the director shall issue the license without a demonstration that the health care facility meets quality standards and satisfies the informed consent compliance requirements specified in division (C) of this section.

(D)(E)(1) No health care facility shall operate without a license issued under this section.

(2) If the department of health finds that a physician who practices at a health care facility is not complying with any provision of the Revised Code related to the obtaining of informed consent from a patient, the department shall report its finding to the state medical board, the physician, and the health care facility.

(3) This division does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, a new cause of action or substantive legal right against a health care facility and in favor of a patient who allegedly sustains harm as a result of the failure of the patient's physician to obtain informed consent from the patient prior to performing a procedure on or otherwise caring for the patient in the health care facility.

(E)(F) The rules adopted under division (B) of this section shall include provisions all of the following:

(1) Provisions governing application for, renewal, suspension, and revocation of licenses a license under this section;

(2) Provisions governing orders issued pursuant to section 3702.32 of the Revised Code for a health care facility to cease its operations or to prohibit certain types of services provided by a health care facility;

(3) Provisions governing the imposition under section 3702.32 of the Revised Code of civil penalties for violations of this section or the rules adopted under this section, including a scale for determining the amount of the penalties.

Sec. 3702.31.  (A) The quality monitoring and inspection fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The director of health shall use the fund to administer and enforce this section and sections 3702.11 to 3702.20 and, 3702.30, and 3702.32 of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to those sections. The director shall deposit in the fund any moneys collected pursuant to this section or section 3702.32 of the Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(B) The director of health shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing fees for both of the following:

(1) Initial and renewal license applications submitted under section 3702.30 of the Revised Code. The fees established under division (B)(1) of this section shall not exceed the actual and necessary costs of performing the activities described in division (A) of this section.

(2) Inspections conducted under section 3702.15 or 3702.30 of the Revised Code. The fees established under division (B)(2) of this section shall not exceed the actual and necessary costs incurred during an inspection, including any indirect costs incurred by the department for staff, salary, or other administrative costs. The director of health shall provide to each health care facility or provider inspected pursuant to section 3702.15 or 3702.30 of the Revised Code a written statement of the fee. The statement shall itemize and total the costs incurred. Within fifteen days after receiving a statement from the director, the facility or provider shall forward the total amount of the fee to the director.

(3) The fees described in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section shall meet both of the following requirements:

(a) For each service described in section 3702.11 of the Revised Code, the fee shall not exceed one thousand dollars two hundred fifty dollars annually, except that the total fees charged to a health care provider under this section shall not exceed five thousand dollars annually.

(b) The fee shall exclude any costs reimbursable by the United States health care financing administration as part of the certification process for the medicare program established under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, and the medicaid program established under Title XIX of that act.

(4) The director shall not establish a fee for any service for which a licensure or inspection fee is paid by the health care provider to a state agency for the same or similar licensure or inspection.

Sec. 3702.32. (A) If the director of health determines that a health care facility is operating without a license in violation of division (E)(1) of section 3702.30 of the Revised Code, the director shall do one or more of the following:

(1) Provide an opportunity for the health care facility to apply for a license within a specified time, not exceeding thirty days after the date of the facility's receipt of the order;

(2) Issue an order that the health care facility cease its operations;

(3) Issue an order that prohibits the health care facility from performing certain types of services;

(4) Impose a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars upon the health care facility for operating without a license;

(5) Impose an additional civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars for each day that the health care facility operates without a license.

(B)(1) If a health care facility subject to an order issued under division (A)(1) of this section continues to operate, the director of health may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the health care facility is located for an injunction enjoining the facility from operating. The court shall grant an injunction upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is operating without a license.

(2) If a health care facility subject to an order issued under division (A)(2) of this section continues to provide the types of services prohibited by the order, the director of health may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the health care facility is located for an injunction enjoining the facility from performing those types of services. The court shall grant an injunction upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is providing the types of services prohibited by the director's order.

(C) If, after making its reports as provided in division (E)(2) of section 3702.30 of the Revised Code, the department of health finds that a physician has continued to engage at the same health care facility in a pattern of repeating the same violation and that the health care facility has failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that the physician does not continue the same violation at the health care facility, the department may, after providing the health care facility an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, impose a civil penalty on the health care facility. The penalty shall be not less than one thousand dollars and not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(D) If the director of health determines that a health care facility has violated any provision of section 3702.30 of the Revised Code, other than a violation of division (E)(1) or (2) of that section, any provision of Chapter 3701-83 of the Administrative Code, or any other rule adopted by the director of health under section 3702.30 of the Revised Code, the director may do any or all of the following:

(1) Provide an opportunity for the health care facility to correct the violation within a specified period of time;

(2) Revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the health care facility's license;

(3) Prior to or during the pendency of an administrative hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, issue an order that prohibits the health care facility from performing certain types of services;

(4) Provide an opportunity for the health care facility to correct the violation;

(5) Impose a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars upon the health care facility for the violation;

(6) Impose an additional civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars for each day that the health care facility fails to correct the violation.

(E) If a health care facility subject to an order issued under division (C)(2) of this section continues to provide the types of services prohibited by the order, the director of health may file a petition in the court of common pleas of the county in which the facility is located for an injunction enjoining the facility from performing those types of services. The court shall grant an injunction upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is providing the types of services prohibited by the director's order.

(F) The director shall deposit all moneys collected as civil penalties under this section into the quality monitoring and inspection fund created under section 3702.31 of the Revised Code for use in accordance with that section.

Sec. 3727.09.  (A) As used in this section and section sections 3727.10 and 3727.101 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Trauma," "trauma care," and "trauma center," "trauma patient," "pediatric," and "adult" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Stabilize" and "transfer" have the same meanings as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(B) Not later than two years On and after the effective date of this section November 3, 2002, each hospital in this state that is not a trauma center shall adopt protocols for adult and pediatric trauma care provided in or by that hospital; each hospital in this state that is an adult trauma center and not a level I or level II pediatric trauma center shall adopt protocols for pediatric trauma care provided in or by that hospital; each hospital in this state that is a pediatric trauma center and not a level I and II adult trauma center shall adopt protocols for adult trauma care provided in or by that hospital. In developing its trauma care protocols, each hospital shall consider the guidelines for trauma care established by the American college of surgeons, the American college of emergency physicians, and the American academy of pediatrics. Trauma care protocols shall be written, comply with applicable federal and state laws, and include policies and procedures with respect to all of the following:

(1) Evaluation of trauma patients, including criteria for prompt identification of trauma patients who require a level of adult or pediatric trauma care that exceeds the hospital's capabilities;

(2) Emergency treatment and stabilization of trauma patients prior to transfer to an appropriate adult or pediatric trauma center;

(3) Timely transfer of trauma patients to appropriate adult or pediatric trauma centers based on a patient's medical needs. Trauma patient transfer protocols shall specify all of the following:

(a) Confirmation of the ability of the receiving trauma center to provide prompt adult or pediatric trauma care appropriate to a patient's medical needs;

(b) Procedures for selecting an appropriate alternative adult or pediatric trauma center to receive a patient when it is not feasible or safe to transport the patient to a particular trauma center;

(c) Advance notification and appropriate medical consultation with the trauma center to which a trauma patient is being, or will be, transferred;

(d) Procedures for selecting an appropriate method of transportation and the hospital responsible for arranging or providing the transportation;

(e) Confirmation of the ability of the persons and vehicle that will transport a trauma patient to provide appropriate adult or pediatric trauma care;

(f) Assured communication with, and appropriate medical direction of, the persons transporting a trauma patient to a trauma center;

(g) Identification and timely transfer of appropriate medical records of the trauma patient being transferred;

(h) The hospital responsible for care of a patient in transit;

(i) The responsibilities of the physician attending a patient and, if different, the physician who authorizes a transfer of the patient;

(j) Procedures for determining, in consultation with an appropriate adult or pediatric trauma center and the persons who will transport a trauma patient, when transportation of the patient to a trauma center may be delayed for either of the following reasons:

(i) Immediate transfer of the patient is unsafe due to adverse weather or ground conditions.

(ii) No trauma center is able to provide appropriate adult or pediatric trauma care to the patient without undue delay.

(4) Peer review and quality assurance procedures for adult and pediatric trauma care provided in or by the hospital.

(C)(1) Not later than two years On and after the effective date of this section November 3, 2002, each hospital shall enter into all of the following written agreements unless otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section:

(a) An agreement with one or more adult trauma centers in each level of categorization as a trauma center higher than the hospital that governs the transfer of adult trauma patients from the hospital to those trauma centers;

(b) An agreement with one or more pediatric trauma centers in each level of categorization as a trauma center higher than the hospital that governs the transfer of pediatric trauma patients from the hospital to those trauma centers.

(2) A level I or level II adult trauma center is not required to enter into an adult trauma patient transfer agreement with another hospital. A level I or level II pediatric trauma center is not required to enter into a pediatric trauma patient transfer agreement with another hospital. A hospital is not required to enter into an adult trauma patient transfer agreement with a level III or level IV adult trauma center, or enter into a pediatric trauma patient transfer agreement with a level III or level IV pediatric trauma center, if no trauma center of that type is reasonably available to receive trauma patients transferred from the hospital.

(3) A trauma patient transfer agreement entered into by a hospital under division (C)(1) of this section shall comply with applicable federal and state laws and contain provisions conforming to the requirements for trauma care protocols set forth in division (B) of this section.

(D) A hospital shall make trauma care protocols it adopts under division (B) of this section and trauma patient transfer agreements it adopts under division (C) of this section available for public inspection during normal working hours. A hospital shall furnish a copy of such documents upon request and may charge a reasonable and necessary fee for doing so, provided that upon request it shall furnish a copy of such documents to the director of health free of charge.

(E) A hospital that ceases to operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status is not in violation of divisions (B) and (C) of this section during the time it develops different trauma care protocols and enters into different patient transfer agreements pursuant to division (D)(2)(c) of section 3727.101 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3727.10.  Beginning two years On and after the effective date of this section November 3, 2002, no hospital in this state shall knowingly do any of the following:

(A) Represent that it is able to provide adult or pediatric trauma care to a severely injured patient that is inconsistent with its level of categorization as an adult or pediatric trauma center, provided that a hospital that operates an emergency facility may represent that it provides emergency care;

(B) Provide adult or pediatric trauma care to a severely injured patient that is inconsistent with applicable federal laws, state laws, and trauma care protocols and patient transfer agreements the hospital has adopted under section 3727.09 of the Revised Code;

(C) Transfer a severely injured adult or pediatric trauma patient to a hospital that is not a trauma center with an appropriate level of adult or pediatric categorization or otherwise transfer a severely injured adult or pediatric trauma patient in a manner inconsistent with any applicable trauma patient transfer agreement adopted by the hospital under section 3727.09 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3727.101. (A) If a hospital is seeking initial verification as an adult or pediatric trauma center, verification at a different level, or reverification after having ceased to be verified for one year or longer, the hospital shall submit an application to the American college of surgeons for a consultation visit. If a hospital is seeking reverification after having ceased to be verified for less than one year, the hospital shall submit an application for either a consultation visit or a reverification visit, except when operating pursuant to division (C)(1)(b) of this section.

The hospital shall undergo the visit and obtain a written report of the results of the visit. If the report is not obtained by the date that occurs one year after the application for the visit is submitted, the hospital shall submit a new application.

(B) Not later than one year after obtaining a report under division (A) of this section, a hospital may apply to the American college of surgeons for verification or reverification as an adult or pediatric trauma center if, based on the report, all of the following occur:

(1) The hospital's chief medical officer and chief executive officer certify in writing to the hospital's governing board that the hospital is committed and able to provide adult or pediatric trauma care consistent with the level of verification or reverification being sought.

(2) The hospital's governing board adopts a resolution stating that the hospital is committed and able to provide adult or pediatric trauma care consistent with the level of verification or reverification being sought.

(3) The hospital's governing board approves a written plan and timetable for obtaining the level of verification or reverification being sought, including provisions for correcting at the earliest practicable date any deficiencies identified in the report obtained pursuant to division (A) of this section.

(C)(1) A hospital may operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status, as follows:

(a) On submission of an application under division (B) of this section;

(b) Until it receives the final result of its reverification if the application was submitted within one year before it ceased to be verified.

(2) A hospital operating as an adult or pediatric trauma care center under provisional status is subject to both of the following:

(a) The hospital shall limit its provisional status activities to those activities authorized by the level of verification or reverification being sought.

(b) The hospital shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to comply with all requirements established by the American college of surgeons that must be met for the level of verification or reverification being sought.

(D)(1) A hospital shall cease to operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status if any of the following applies:

(a) The application for verification or reverification is denied, suspended, terminated, or withdrawn.

(b) In the case of a hospital seeking initial verification, verification at a different level, or reverification after having ceased to be verified for one year or longer, the hospital has not obtained verification or reverification by the date that occurs eighteen months after commencing to operate under provisional status.

(c) In the case of a hospital seeking reverification after having ceased to be verified for less than one year, the hospital has not obtained reverification by the date that occurs one year after commencing to operate under provisional status.

(2) A hospital that ceases to operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section shall do all of the following:

(a) Except as otherwise provided by federal law, at the earliest practicable date transfer to one or more appropriate trauma centers all trauma patients in the hospital to whom the hospital is not permitted to provide trauma care.

(b) Promptly comply with section 3727.10 of the Revised Code according to its current status.

(c) Not later than one hundred eighty days after ceasing to operate under provisional status, comply with section 3727.09 of the Revised Code according to its current status.

(3) A hospital that ceases to operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status may not operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status until two years have elapsed since it ceased to operate under that status.

(E) With respect to the availability of documents and other information prepared pursuant to this section, an adult or pediatric trauma center operating under provisional status is subject to both of the following:

(1) The trauma center shall make available for public inspection during normal working hours a copy of the certification, resolution, and application prepared pursuant to division (B) of this section. On request, the trauma center shall provide a copy of the documents. A reasonable fee may be charged to cover the necessary expenses incurred in furnishing the copies, except that no fee shall be charged if the copies are being furnished to the director of health.

(2) On request, the trauma center shall furnish to the director of health a copy of the report of the consultative or reverification visit obtained from the American college of surgeons pursuant to division (A) of this section and a copy of the plan and timetable approved pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section for obtaining verification or reverification. The documents provided may omit patient-identifying information. Submission of the documents to the director does not waive any privilege or right of confidentiality that otherwise applies to the documents and the information in them.

The documents and the information in them are not public records and shall not be disclosed to any person except employees of the department of health who are expressly authorized by the director of health to examine the copies and information in them. The documents and information in them are not subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in a civil action, except an action brought by the director against the trauma center or a person that authorized, approved, or created the original documents and the information in them.

(F) Notwithstanding any provision of this section regarding the receipt of a report of the results of a consultation visit or reverification visit from the American college of surgeons, if a hospital submitted an application for a consultation visit or reverification visit as an adult or pediatric trauma center on or before May 20, 2002, the hospital may operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status. The hospital shall do all of the following:

(1) Comply with divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section as though the report has been received;

(2) Approve through its governing board a written plan and timetable for obtaining the level of verification or reverification being sought, including provisions for correcting at the earliest practicable date any deficiencies identified in the exit interview following the consultation or reverification visit and any subsequent report received;

(3) Comply with all other provisions of this section applicable to the operation of a trauma center under provisional status, including the requirements of division (D) of this section regarding the ceasing of operation under provisional status.

Sec. 3727.102. A hospital shall promptly notify in writing the director of health, the emergency medical services division of the department of public safety, and the appropriate regional directors and regional advisory boards appointed under section 4765.05 of the Revised Code if any of the following occurs:

(A) The hospital ceases to be an adult or pediatric trauma center verified by the American college of surgeons.

(B) The hospital changes its level of verification as an adult or pediatric trauma center verified by the American college of surgeons.

(C) The hospital commences to operate as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status pursuant to section 3727.101 of the Revised Code.

(D) The hospital changes the level of verification or reverification it is seeking under its provisional status.

(E) The hospital ceases to operate under its provisional status.

(F) The hospital receives verification or reverification in place of its provisional status.

Sec. 4765.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "First responder" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as a first responder.

(B) "Emergency medical technician-basic" or "EMT-basic" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-basic.

(C) "Emergency medical technician-intermediate" or "EMT-I" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-intermediate.

(D) "Emergency medical technician-paramedic" or "paramedic" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-paramedic.

(E) "Ambulance" means any motor vehicle that is used, or is intended to be used, for the purpose of responding to emergency medical situations, transporting emergency patients, and administering emergency medical service to patients before, during, or after transportation.

(F) "Cardiac monitoring" means a procedure used for the purpose of observing and documenting the rate and rhythm of a patient's heart by attaching electrical leads from an electrocardiograph monitor to certain points on the patient's body surface.

(G) "Emergency medical service" means any of the services described in sections 4765.35, 4765.37, 4765.38, and 4765.39 of the Revised Code that are performed by first responders, emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical technicians-intermediate, and paramedics. "Emergency medical service" includes such services performed before or during any transport of a patient, including transports between hospitals and transports to and from helicopters.

(H) "Emergency medical service organization" means a public or private organization using first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, or paramedics, or a combination of first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, and paramedics, to provide emergency medical services.

(I) "Physician" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code authorizing the practice of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(J) "Registered nurse" means an individual who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code authorizing the practice of nursing as a registered nurse.

(K) "Volunteer" means a person who provides services either for no compensation or for compensation that does not exceed the actual expenses incurred in providing the services or in training to provide the services.

(l)(L) "Emergency medical service personnel" means first responders, emergency medical service technicians-basic, emergency medical service technicians-intermediate, emergency medical service technicians-paramedic, and persons who provide medical direction to such persons.

(M) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(N) "Trauma" or "traumatic injury" means severe damage to or destruction of tissue that satisfies both of the following conditions:

(1) It creates a significant risk of any of the following:

(a) Loss of life;

(b) Loss of a limb;

(c) Significant, permanent disfigurement;

(d) Significant, permanent disability.

(2) It is caused by any of the following:

(a) Blunt or penetrating injury;

(b) Exposure to electtomagnetic electromagnetic, chemical, or rodioactive radioactive energy;

(c) Drowning, suffocation, or stangulation strangulation;

(d) A dificit deficit or excess of heat.

(o)(O) "Trauma victim" or "trauma patient" means a person who has sustained a traumatic injury.

(p)(P) "Trauma care" means the assessment, diagnosis, transportation, treatment, or rehabilitation of a trauma victim by emergency medical service personnel or by a physician, nurse, physician assistant, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, chiropractor, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, or psychologist licensed to practice as such in this state or another jurisdiction.

(Q) "Trauma center" means all of the following:

(1) Any hospital that is verified by the American college of surgeons as an adult or pediatric trauma center;

(2) Any hospital that is operating as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status pursuant to section 3727.101 of the Revised Code;

(3) Until December 31, 2004, any hospital in this state that is designated by the director of health as a level II pediatric trauma center under section 3727.081 of the Revised Code;

(3)(4) Any hospital in another state that is licensed or designated under the laws of that state as capable of providing specialized trauma care appropriate to the medical needs of the trauma patient.

(R) "Pediatric" means involving a patient who is less than sixteen years of age.

(S) "Adult" means involving a patient who is not a pediatric patient.

(T) "Geriatric" means involving a patient who is at least seventy years old or exhibits significant anatomical or physiological characteristics associated with advanced aging.

(U) "Air medical organization" means an organization that provides emergency medical services, or transports emergency victims, by means of fixed or rotary wing aircraft.

(V) "Emergency care" and "emergency facility" have the same meanings as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(W) "Stabilize," except as it is used in division (B) of section 4765.35 of the Revised Code with respect to the manual stabilization of fractures, has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(X) "Transfer" has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4765.50.  (A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, no person shall represent that the person is a first responder, an emergency medical technician-basic or EMT-basic, an emergency medical technician-intermediate or EMT-I, or an emergency medical technician-paramedic or paramedic unless appropriately certified under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) No person shall operate an emergency medical services training program without a certificate of accreditation issued under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code.

(2) No person shall operate an emergency medical services continuing education program without a certificate of approval issued under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code.

(C) No public or private entity shall advertise or disseminate information leading the public to believe that the entity is an emergency medical service organization, unless that entity actually provides emergency medical services.

(D) A person who is performing the functions of a first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-I, or paramedic under the authority of the laws of a jurisdiction other than this state, who is employed by or serves as a volunteer with an emergency medical service organization based in that state, and provides emergency medical services to or transportation of a patient in this state is not in violation of division (A) of this section.

A person who is performing the functions of a first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-I, or paramedic under a reciprocal agreement authorized by section 4765.10 of the Revised Code is not in violation of division (A) of this section.

(E) Beginning two years On and after the effective date of this amendment November 3, 2002, no physician shall purposefully do any of the following:

(1) Admit an adult trauma patient to a hospital that is not an adult trauma center for the purpose of providing adult trauma care;

(2) Admit a pediatric trauma patient to a hospital that is not a pediatric trauma center for the purpose of providing pediatric trauma care;

(3) Fail to transfer an adult or pediatric trauma patient to an adult or pediatric trauma center in accordance with applicable federal law, state law, and adult or pediatric trauma protocols and patient transfer agreements adopted under section 3727.09 of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 2317.54, 3702.30, 3702.31, 3727.09, 3727.10, 4765.01, and 4765.50 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3. Sections 3727.101 and 3727.102 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, shall take effect on November 3, 2002, or the earliest time permitted by law, whichever is later.