§ 8128 — Receiving facilities

(a) Purpose.--A receiving facility is a facility to which an ambulance may transport a patient who requires prompt medical care in addition to that provided by the ambulance crew after the crew responds to an emergency.

(b) Requirements.--A receiving facility shall include, but need not be limited to, a fixed location having an organized emergency department, including a physician trained to manage cardiac, trauma, pediatric, medical, behavioral and all-hazards emergencies, who is present in the facility and available to the emergency department 24 hours per day and seven days per week. By regulation, the department may authorize other types of facilities to serve as receiving facilities for purposes of serving patients who have special medical needs.

(c) Patient transports.--Unless directed otherwise by a medical command physician, the initial transport of a patient following an ambulance response to a reported emergency shall be to a receiving facility pursuant to a protocol under section 8105(c) (relating to duties of department) or 8109(c)(8) (relating to regional emergency medical services councils) or such other location as the department designated by protocol.