Maryland § 19-310.6

§ 19-310.6.

    (a)    (1)    Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, on or before January 1, 2025, each hospital and urgent care center in the State shall implement an evidence–based protocol for the early recognition and treatment of a patient with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock that is based on generally acceptable standards of care.

        (2)    The evidence–based protocol implemented for hospitals under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sepsis guidelines.

        (3)    A hospital that is a specialty psychiatric hospital shall establish a process for the screening and early recognition of a patient with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock, and procedures to transfer the patient to the appropriate setting.

    (b)    A hospital that submits sepsis data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program is presumed to meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

    (c)    Each hospital and urgent care center shall:

        (1)    Require periodic training in the implementation of the sepsis protocol required under subsection (a) of this section for professional staff with direct patient care responsibilities and, as appropriate, for staff with indirect patient care responsibilities, including laboratory and pharmacy staff; and

        (2)    Ensure that the staff receive updated training if the hospital or urgent care center makes a substantive change to the sepsis protocol.