Section 250.1250  Surgical Emergency Care

a)         An on-call schedule of physicians shall be established and posted at each patient care unit or other area where surgical patients are admitted or the communications center of the hospital to ensure that there is 24-hour emergency care.

b)         An emergency surgical case is defined as any case in which, in the opinion of the attending physician or surgeon, the risk of a delay endangers the patient's life, limb or organs.  The declaration of an emergency shall be appropriately noted in the patient's chart.

c)         In the event of the declaration of an emergency case, any of the requirements regarding the preoperative assessment of the patient and informed consents may be waived by the attending physician or surgeon and noted in the medical record.

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 13913, effective November 15, 1999)