Section 640.40  Standards for Perinatal Care

a)         Levels of Perinatal Care

            Within each regional perinatal network there shall be three levels of perinatal care, and within Level II there shall be two categories of perinatal care:  Level I or general care; Level II or intermediate care, or Level II with Extended Capabilities; and Level III or intensive care.  Minimum licensing standards for all three levels are described in Subpart O of the Hospital Licensing Requirements (77 Ill. Adm. Code 250).  All hospitals providing obstetrical and neonatal services shall be designated in accordance with the provisions of this Part and a letter of agreement with a designated Perinatal Center (Section 640.70 describes the minimum components for the letter of agreement).

b)         Perinatal Network

            Level I, Level II, Level II with Extended Capabilities and Level III facilities shall function within the framework of a regionally integrated system of services designed to maximize outcomes and to promote appropriate use of expertise and resources.  Recognition of high risk conditions, prenatal consultations, referrals, or transfers are important to improve outcomes. Regional consultant relationships in maternal-fetal medicine and neonatalogy referred to in this Part shall be detailed in the letter of agreement.  Staff physicians and consultants shall be cognizant of the standards and the guidelines in the letter of agreement.

c)         Non-Maternity General Hospitals

            All licensed general hospitals that may provide emergent or urgent care shall have a letter of agreement with a Perinatal Center for referral of perinatal patients, regardless of whether they provide maternity or newborn services.  The letter of agreement shall delineate but not be limited to:  guidelines for transfer/transport of perinatal patients to an appropriate perinatal care facility, telephone numbers for consultation and transfer/transport of perinatal patients, educational needs assessment for Emergency Room staff, and provision of education programs to maintain emergency perinatal skills.

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 12574, effective August 4, 2000)