12.96.040 Findings based on evidence and testimony from public hearing.
The Community Health Commission shall make findings based on evidence and testimony from public hearing that the proposed action will or will not have a detrimental impact on the health care service of the community. The Community Health Commission shall explore in the public hearings what alternative means are available to the community to provide the services to be eliminated or curtailed.
If the Community Health Commission finds that the discontinued service is necessary for preserving access and health status in the hospital’s service area, the hospital shall, within 15 calendar days of such finding, submit a plan for assuring access to such necessary service(s) following the hospital’s closure of the service(s). The plan must include the following elements:
(1)Information on utilization of the service prior to proposed closure.
(2)Information on the location and service capacity of alternative delivery sites.
(3)Travel times to alternative service delivery sites.
(4)An assessment of transportation needs post discontinuance and a plan for meeting those needs.
(5)A protocol that details mechanisms to maintain continuity of care for current patients of the discontinued service.
(6)A protocol that describes how patients in the hospital’s service area will safely and timely access the services at alternative delivery sites. (Ord. 7535-NS § 1 (part), 2017: Ord. 5891-NS § 3, 1988)