2016 -- S 2469

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LC004647

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES --

CIRCULATING NURSES

     Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Goldin, Miller, Doyle, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-17 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing of Health Care

Facilities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     23-17-63. Patient safety -- Circulating nurses required in operating rooms. -- (a) The

following definitions apply in this section:

     (1) "Circulating nurse" means registered nurse licensed to practice in the state of Rhode

Island who is educated and trained in perioperative nursing.

     (2) "Perioperative nursing" means specialized area of nursing practice that involves the

planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of nursing care to patients whose protective

reflexes or self-care abilities are potentially compromised during surgical or other invasive

procedures.

     (b) In order to enhance patient safety and protection, each hospital licensed in the state of

Rhode Island shall adopt rules and regulations to have a minimum of one circulating nurse

physically present in each operating room for the duration of each surgical procedure to:

     (1) Coordinate the nursing care and safety needs of patients in the operating room; and

     (2) Support the surgical team as appropriate during surgery.

     (c) The department of health shall not issue or renew a license unless the applicant is in

compliance with this section.

     SECTION 2. Section 23-17-49 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled "Licensing

of Health Care Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-17-49. Surgical procedures -- General provisions. -- (a) The director shall

determine through regulation categories of patients that shall be permitted to receive surgical

services in free standing ambulatory surgical facilities, podiatry ambulatory surgery centers and

physician ambulatory surgery centers providing surgical treatment based upon criteria including,

but not limited to:

      (1) Risks related to patient characteristics;

      (2) The type of and risks associated with the anesthesia required; and

      (3) As appropriate, the complexity of the surgical procedure and the expected duration of

the surgical procedure.

      (b) Further, the director shall determine through regulation categories of patients that are

prohibited from receiving surgical services in free standing ambulatory surgical facilities,

physician ambulatory surgery centers, podiatry ambulatory surgery centers, and physician offices

not licensed under this chapter based upon criteria including, but not limited to:

      (1) Risks related to patient characteristics;

      (2) The type of and risks associated with the anesthesia required; and

      (3) As appropriate, the complexity of the surgical procedure.

     (c) The following definitions apply in this section:

     (1) "Circulating nurse" means registered nurse licensed to practice in the state of the

Rhode Island who is educated and trained in perioperative nursing.

     (2) "Perioperative nursing" means specialized area of nursing practice that involves the

planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of nursing care to patients whose protective

reflexes or self-care abilities are potentially compromised during surgical or other invasive

procedures.

     (d) In order to enhance patient safety and protection, each hospital licensed in the state of

Rhode Island shall adopt rules and regulations to have a minimum of one circulating nurse

physically present in each operating room for the duration of each surgical procedure to:

     (1) Coordinate the nursing care and safety needs of patients in the operating room; and

     (2) Support the surgical team as appropriate during surgery.

     (e) The department of health shall not issue or renew a license unless the applicant is in

compliance with this section.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on October 1, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES --

CIRCULATING NURSES

***

     This act would require hospital and ambulatory surgical facility operating rooms to have

at least one circulating nurse present in each operating room during each surgical procedure.

     This act would take effect on October 1, 2016.

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