2016 -- H 7448

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LC004133

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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: Representatives McNamara, Bennett, Diaz, Naughton, and Malik

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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following definitions apply in this section:

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

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Island who is educated and trained in perioperative nursing.

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

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

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

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procedures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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compliance with this section.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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but not limited to:

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      (1) Risks related to patient characteristics;

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

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

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the surgical procedure.

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

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

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

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

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      (1) Risks related to patient characteristics;

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

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

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     (c) The following definitions apply in this section:

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

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Rhode Island who is educated and trained in perioperative nursing.

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

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

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

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procedures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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     This act would take effect on October 1, 2016.

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