SC S0958

Allows patient beds to be placed in hospital hallways, corridors, and emergency exits during "justified emergencies" at the discretion of the on-site emergency department physician

Defines "justified emergency" to include declared states of emergency, natural/manmade disasters, mass transit accidents, industrial accidents, chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear events, mob or terrorist violence, infectious disease outbreaks, or exhaustion of all available emergency department treatment space

Requires the emergency physician to document the justified emergency on a Department of Public Health form within seven calendar days, including start/end times, nature of emergency, and evidence that all other treatment space was exhausted

Mandates hospitals remove all beds from hallways and egress routes when no justified emergency exists and maintain clear pathways even when beds are present during emergencies

Requires hospitals to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Public Health documenting each instance of hallway bed use and develop written safety protocols for emergency conditions