RULES.

(a) On the recommendation of the advisory council, the executive commissioner shall adopt minimum standards and objectives to implement a pediatric emergency services system, including rules that:

(1) provide guidelines for categorization of a facility's pediatric capability;

(2) provide for triage, transfer, and transportation policies for pediatric care;

(3) establish guidelines for:

(A) prehospital care management for triage and transportation of a pediatric patient;

(B) prehospital and hospital equipment that is necessary and appropriate for the care of a pediatric patient;

(C) necessary pediatric emergency equipment and training in long-term care facilities; and

(D) an interhospital transfer system for a critically ill or injured pediatric patient; and

(4) provide for data collection and analysis.

(b) The executive commissioner and the advisory council shall consider guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons in recommending and adopting rules under this section.

(c) The department may grant an exception to a rule adopted under this section if it finds that compliance with the rule would not be in the best interests of persons served in the affected local pediatric emergency medical services system.

(d) This subchapter does not prohibit a health care facility from providing services that it is authorized to provide under a license issued to the facility by the department.