General acute care hospitals: cardiovascular surgical teams.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, administered by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes the department to approve, as prescribed, a general acute care hospital to offer cardiac surgery and cardiac catheterization services, as defined, if specified requirements are met. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would require a surgical team for the performance of cardiovascular operative procedures that require extracorporeal bypass to consist of a minimum of 2 surgeons. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.