Level I emergency service

Medical services provided to patients for conditions arising, often unexpectedly, that need at least one physician experienced in emergency care on duty in the emergency care area. There must be in-hospital physician coverage by members of the medical staff or by senior-level residents for at least medical, surgical, orthopedic, obstetric, gynecologic, pediatric, and anesthesiology services. When coverage can be demonstrated to meet suitably through another mechanism, an equivalent will be considered to exist for purposes of compliance with the requirement. Other specialty consultation must be available within approximately 30 minutes. Initial consultation through two-way voice communication is acceptable. The hospital’s scope of services must include in-house capabilities for managing physical and related emotional problems on a definitive basis. Also see emergency services .

Level II emergency service

Medical services provided to patients for conditions arising, often unexpectedly, that need at least one physician experienced in emergency care on duty in the emergency care area. Specialty consultation must be available within approximately 30 minutes by members of the medical staff or by senior-level residents. Initial consultation through two-way voice communication is acceptable. The hospital’s scope of services must include in-house capabilities for managing physical and related emotional problems, with provision for patient transfer to another facility when required. Also see emergency services .

Level III emergency service

Medical services provided to patients for conditions arising, often unexpectedly, that need at least one physician available to the emergency care area from within the hospital who is available immediately through two-way voice communication. Specialty consultation must be available by request of the attending medical staff member or by transfer to a designated hospital where definitive care can be rendered. Also see emergency services .

level of service (LOS)

1. Intensity of medical services given to a patient when a physician provides one-on-one service (i.e., minimal, brief, limited, intermediate, comprehensive). 2. Other levels of service given by a health care organization (i.e., ambulatory surgery). Sometimes referred to as level of care (LOC) .

level of specificity

Phrase used when assigning a diagnostic code to the highest degree. It means to assign (1) three-digit codes (category codes) if there are no four-digit codes within the code category or (2) four-digit codes (subcategory codes) if there are no five-digit codes for that category or (3) five-digit codes (fifth-digit subclassification codes) for those categories where they are available.