(b) A PCH/CAH shall provide a minimum set of core services to meet patient needs, including:

1. (1) primary care: inpatient and ambulatory services;
2. (2) inpatient non-surgical clinical services;
3. (3) emergency services sufficient to handle a range of urgent and limited emergent care needs;
4. (4) laboratory services;
5. (5) imaging services; and
6. (6) pharmacy services.

(d) PCHs and CAHs shall:

1. (1) participate in the development and implementation of an emergency medical services plan that is suitable to meet the needs of the rural area in which the hospital is located. If the PCH or CAH is a member of a rural health network, such plan shall be a component of the network plan. The emergency medical services plan shall be developed in conjunction with the existing local EMS system and service delivery providers. In the event that the PCH or CAH is a member of a rural health network, the plan shall reflect the agreement of all appropriate providers in the network;
2. (2) install and maintain a radio operated or dedicated phone line (call box) outside the PCH/CAH to provide continuous contact with medical control and appropriate providers of advice and/or emergency transport for patients that may arrive after hours;
3. (3) develop written policies and protocols for medical control. Such protocols shall be developed in conjunction with appropriate area or network providers, entities providing medical control services, be consistent with area and regional EMS protocols and be approved by the area Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (REMAC);

4. (4) educate the community about the role of the hospital in meeting community health and health related needs including, but not limited to:

   1. (i) the types of services provided at the hospital and, if applicable, within the network;
   2. (ii) the hours of operation, which shall be posted publicly in the rural area served by the hospital and made available to the designated medical control facility for the area in which the hospital operates; and
   3. (iii) changes in hours of operation, which shall be publicly posted and implemented only after a reasonable notification period to insure the rural area has had ample warning of the changes; and
5. (5) support and participate in any communication system that may be available for the area served by the PCH/CAH and the general hospital(s) with which it has a formal affiliation pursuant to section 407.1 of this Part. Such communication system may include but shall not be limited to electronic sharing of patient data, telemetry, and medical records as well as cellular and other radio transmission devices for providing immediate communication links with medical control, back-up services and transport systems;

6. (6) CAHs shall have the following additional agreements:

   1. (i) patient referral and transfer with its supporting hospital(s);
   2. (ii) the provision of emergency and non-emergency transportation between the CAH and its supporting hospital(s) pursuant to the provisions of section 407.12 of this Part; and
   3. (iii) credentialing and quality assurance activities with the CAH's support hospital(s) pursuant to the provisions of section 407.6 of this Part.