Chapter 06-224

2006 -- H 7842 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/03/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

Introduced By: Representatives Ginaitt, Laroche, and T Brien

Date Introduced: March 07, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-4.1 of the General Laws entitled "Emergency Medical

Transportation Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

23-4.1-19. Documentation of pre-hospital exposure of emergency medical services

workers. – (a) Any emergency service worker responding on behalf of a licensed

ambulance/rescue service, or a fire department or a law enforcement agency who has sufficient

reason to believe that, in the course of their professional duties, they have been exposed to bodily

fluids or other substances that may result in the worker contracting a serious infection and/or

illness shall complete a pre-hospital exposure form. The worker shall file a copy of the form with

the hospital receiving the transported patient believed to be the source of the infectious materials

to which the worker believes he or she has been exposed. The worker shall file the form with the

hospital immediately post exposure. The worker shall retain a copy of the completed form,

except for that information protected by applicable confidentiality laws. The source patient’s

diagnostic information shall not appear on the pre-hospital exposure form.

(b) The director of the department of health, with the advice of the ambulance services

advisory board, shall develop the pre-hospital exposure form, and shall make copies available to

all agencies employing emergency medical service workers and hospitals.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 23-17 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing of Health Care

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

23-17-58. Documentation of pre-hospital exposure of emergency medical services

workers. – Hospitals shall be required to complete the hospital related information requirements

of the pre-hospital exposure form for emergency service workers as required by section 23-4.1-

19. Further, the hospitals shall report to the director of the department of health the information

and data as may be required by regulation.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02659/SUB A

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