Section 640.70  Minimum Components for Letters of Agreement Between Non-Birthing Center, Level I, Level II, Level II with Extended Neonatal Capabilities, or Level III Perinatal Hospitals and Their Administrative Perinatal Center

The following components, at a minimum, shall be addressed in a letter of agreement between the applicant hospital and its APC:

a)         A description of how maternal and neonatal patients with potential complications, including handicapping conditions or developmental disabilities, will be identified.

b)         A description of the types of maternal and neonatal cases in which consultation from the APC or Level III hospital shall be sought and from which patients shall be selected for transfer.  This description shall address those high-risk mothers or neonates with handicapping conditions, developmental disabilities, or medical conditions that may require additional medical and surgical treatment and support services, but would not, however, require transport to an APC or Level III hospital.

c)         A description of how the APC or Level III hospital will report a patient's progress to the referring physicians, and the criteria for return of the patient from the APC or Level III hospital to an affiliated hospital closer to the patient's home.

d)         A description of the methods for transporting high-risk mothers and neonates with physiological support in transit.

e)         A description of the information, counseling and referral services available within the local community and the regional network for parents or potential parents of neonates with handicapping conditions or developmental disabilities.

f)         A description of the professional educational outreach program for the regional network, including how efforts will be coordinated.

g)         A description of the regional perinatal network's program for medical and home nursing follow-up, describing systems of liaisons, with a letter of agreement from the agency providing the home nursing follow-up services.

h)         A description of the methodologies used to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of health care services provided by the applicant hospital, including  expectations of both the APC and applicant hospital on joint participation in CQI activities.

i)          A requirement that the hospital shall provide information, counseling and referral services to another health care provider to parents or potential parents of neonates with handicapping conditions or developmental disabilities upon the identification of the handicapping conditions and developmental disabilities, to assist in obtaining habilitation, rehabilitation and special education services.

j)          A requirement for evaluation and consultation with the APC or Level III hospital and referral to the APC or Level III hospital, when determined appropriate by the perinatal conditions or developmental disabilities, within 24 hours after the identification of the conditions (specific conditions shall be defined in the letter of agreement).

k)         A requirement that procedures for referral to appropriate state and local education service agencies of children having an identified handicapping condition or developmental disability requiring evaluation and assessment under such agencies shall be established.  The procedures shall include obtaining parental consent prior to release of information to the appropriate state and local educational service agencies.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 2583, effective January 31, 2011)