(a) The state department shall have the authority to contract for outside personnel to perform inspections of health facilities as the need arises. The state department, when feasible, shall contract with nonprofit, professional organizations which have demonstrated the ability to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The organizations shall include, but not be limited to, the California Medical Association Committee on Medical Staff Surveys and participants in the Consolidated Hospital Survey Program.

Quality of care inspections have been performed in recent years by the California Medical Association Committee on Staff Surveys and other organizations which have combined their efforts in the Consolidated Hospital Survey Program. It is the intent of the Legislature that these organizations or comparable organizations shall continue to perform these inspections by contract when sufficient manpower is available from the organizations to do so, unless the state department demonstrates that the inspections fail to assure compliance with the quality of care standards set by this chapter.