P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3352
The Center for Diabetes Research, Education and Medical Services shall be the body responsible for executing the public policy related to the planning, organization, operation and administration of the research, orientation, prevention and treatment of diabetes to be rendered in Puerto Rico. Likewise, through its Board of Directors, its shall conduct the coordination needed to achieve its goals and purposes with the Medical Services Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, the Department of Health and the private entities involved in providing diabetes treatment services in Puerto Rico. The Center for Diabetes Research, Education and Medical Services is hereby empowered to establish the mechanisms it may deem necessary to invoice for the services it provides pursuant to this chapter.
To those ends the Center shall have the following powers and functions:
(a) Draft a research agenda directed to seek answers to the questions which arise concerning diabetes and its complications among Hispanics.
(b) Coordinate and integrate all educational and research services related to diabetes.
(c) Help in the development of clinical physicians specialized in endocrinology, the metabolism and related disciplines as well as health professionals and researchers devoted to the study of the causes and treatment of diabetes among Hispanic populations.
(d) Develop a model which will coordinate and integrate the present clinical services directed to diabetes patients.
(e) Establish mechanisms to improve communications and collaboration among researchers and multidisciplinary health services providers.
(f) Provide educational programs for physicians and other health professionals as well as for the community on the causes of diabetes and its treatment.
(g) Draft an annual operational budget proposal.
(h) Establish the services, units and departments needed for the effective, expeditious, efficient and economical operation of the Center, including the establishment of outpatient surgery operating rooms.
(i) Establish and implement the proper mechanisms to guarantee the quality of the services offered to the patients and the prompt evaluation and correction of any faults and deficiencies which may arise while rendering said services.
(j) Establish and implement the proper mechanisms to evaluate the credentials and the approval, suspension or revocation of the privileges to practice at the Center installations.
(k) Adopt an official seal.
(l) Establish its own administrative structure.
(m) Borrow money from any source of financing, including private institutions as well as the Government of Puerto Rico and the government of the United States.
(n) Maintain complete control and supervision of all equipment and installations of the Center; including, but not limited to, the power to determine the nature of and need for all expenses and the manner in which they may be incurred, allowed and paid.
(o) Determine the location of the physical facilities of the Center.
(p) Sue and be sued.
(q) Draft, adopt, amend and repeal the rules and regulations needed for its operation.
(r) Negotiate and execute all kinds of contracts, documents and other public instruments with persons, firms, corporations, government agencies and other entities in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter, including the sale of services to private persons or entities, commercial insurance companies, labor unions, prepaid public and private health plans and health plans associations, for the health services rendered.
(s) Appoint, contract and designate medical personnel to render direct services to patients at the Center.
(t) Purchase all materials, supplies, equipment, parts and services that may be needed and dispose of, through sale or transfer to other entities, or by destruction or other means deemed most convenient by the Center, of said materials, supplies, equipment and parts when these no longer serve their purpose.
(u) Formalize agreements, leases, contracts and other necessary instruments with the Department of Health, the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico and with any other bodies and instrumentalities of the Government of Puerto Rico.
(v) Solicit, receive and accept federal, Commonwealth, private or any other funds or donations. Carry out and pay for the activities needed to obtain private funds from private organizations or from the federal, Commonwealth or municipal governments.
(w) Carry out motu proprio or by contract, construction works, improvements, expansions, extensions, or repairs the Center may need to fulfill its objectives or purposes.
(x) Own, acquire and transfer personal and real property and mortgage or lease any such property with their rights and privileges, within the limits allowed by law. The power to own private and real property shall include the right to acquire said property through legacy.
(y) Participate with others in a corporation, partnership, common enterprise of any transaction, business, arrangement or agreement for which the participating corporation is empowered to carry out on its own.
(z) Establish the services of an Outpatient Surgery Center with surgery operating rooms for providing services for the care of ulcers and wounds among other surgical procedures.
History —Aug. 12, 2000, No. 166, § 3; Sept. 22, 2004, No. 438, § 1.