Bill Text: GA SB66 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Perfusionists; revise continuing education requirements; definition

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-04-14 - House Withdrawn, Recommitted [SB66 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB66-Engrossed.html

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11 SB66/CSFA/1

Senate Bill 66

By: Senators Carter of the 1st, Unterman of the 45th, Goggans of the 7th and Grant of the 25th

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, acupuncture, physician assistants, cancer and glaucoma treatment, respiratory care, clinical perfusionists, and orthotics and prosthetics practice, so as to revise continuing education requirements relative to clinical perfusionists; to revise the definition of "perfusion"; to revise requirements relating to renewal of licenses for clinical perfusionists; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, acupuncture, physician assistants, cancer and glaucoma treatment, respiratory care, clinical perfusionists, and orthotics and prosthetics practice, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 43-34-11, relating to continuing education requirements, as follows:

"(a)(1) The board shall be authorized to require persons seeking renewal of a license, certificate, or permit under this chapter to complete board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours biennially. The board shall be authorized to approve courses offered by institutions of higher learning, specialty societies, or professional organizations, including, but not limited to, the American Medical Association, the National Medical Association, and the American Osteopathic Association, the number of hours required, and the category in which these hours should be earned. This paragraph shall not apply to respiratory care professionals, or persons seeking renewal of certification as respiratory care professionals, clinical perfusionists, or persons seeking renewal of licensure as a clinical perfusionist.

(2) The board shall be authorized to require persons seeking renewal of certification as respiratory care professionals under Article 6 of this chapter to complete board approved continuing education. The board shall be authorized to establish the number of hours of continuing education required biennially for renewal of certification as a respiratory care professional and the categories in which these hours should be earned. The board shall be authorized to approve courses offered by institutions of higher learning, specialty societies, or professional organizations. Any action taken by the board pursuant to this paragraph shall be taken in conformity with the provisions of Code Section 43-34-143.

(3) The board shall be authorized to require persons seeking renewal of licensure as clinical perfusionists under Article 7 of this chapter to complete board approved continuing education. The board shall be authorized to establish the number of hours of continuing education required biennially for renewal of licensure as a clinical perfusionist and the categories in which these hours should be earned. The board shall be authorized to approve courses offered by institutions of higher learning, specialty societies, or professional organizations. Any action taken by the board pursuant to this paragraph shall be taken in conformity with the provisions of Code Section 43-34-172."

SECTION 2.

Said chapter is further amended by revising paragraph (6) of Code Section 43-34-171, relating to definitions relative to the "Clinical Perfusionist Licensure Act," as follows:

"(6) 'Perfusion' means the functions necessary for the support, treatment, measurement, or supplementation of the cardiovascular, circulatory, or respiratory system or other organ, or a combination of such activities, and to ensure the safe management of physiologic functions by monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the order and supervision of a physician, including, but not limited to:

(A) The use of extracorporeal circulation; long-term cardiopulmonary support techniques, including extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and associated therapeutic and diagnostic technologies;

(B) Counterpulsation, ventricular assistance, autotransfusion, blood conservation techniques, myocardial and organ preservation, extracorporeal life support, and isolated limb perfusion;

(C) The use of techniques involving blood management, advanced life support, and other related functions;

(D) In the performance of the acts described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph:

(i) The administration of:

(I) Pharmacological and therapeutic agents; or

(II) Blood products or anesthetic agents through the extracorporeal circuit or through an intravenous line as ordered by a physician; or

(ii) The performance and use of:

(I) Coagulation monitoring and analysis;

(II) Physiologic monitoring and analysis;

(III) Blood gas and chemistry monitoring and analysis;

(IV) Hematological monitoring and analysis;

(V) Hypothermia and hyperthermia;

(VI) Hemoconcentration and hemodilution; and

(VII) Hemodialysis; and

(E) The observation of signs and symptoms related to perfusion services, the determination of whether the signs and symptoms exhibit abnormal characteristics, and the implementation of appropriate reporting, clinical perfusion protocols, or changes in, or the initiation of, emergency procedures.

(A) Extracorporeal support, including:

(i) Cardiopulmonary bypass for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients;

(ii) Cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital and acquired cardiovascular disorders;

(iii) Extracorporeal circulatory support for renal, neurological, hepatic, and vascular surgery;

(iv) Extracorporeal resuscitation; and

(v) Extracorporeal circulation for long-term support of failing respiratory or cardiac function, or both;

(B) Associated extracorporeal support functions, including:

(i) Myocardial protection;

(ii) Hemofiltration and hemodialysis;

(iii) Anticoagulation and hemostasis monitoring, analysis, and intervention;

(iv) Thermal regulation, including hypothermia and hyperthermia;

(v) Blood gas and blood chemistry monitoring, analysis, and intervention;

(vi) Physiological monitoring, analysis, and intervention; and

(vii) Administration of blood components, pharmaceuticals, chemotherapeutic, and anesthetic agents as directed by a licensed physician;

(C) Heart failure therapy and support, including:

(i) Ventricular assist device management;

(ii) Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation;

(iii) Temporary pacemaker management;

(iv) External counterpulsation;

(v) Transportation of patient on extracorporeal support; and

(vi) Periodic flow augmentation therapy;

(D) Blood management, including:

(i) Autotransfusion;

(ii) Platelet concentrate; and

(iii) Nondifferentiated progenitor cell harvest; and

(E) Other clinical functions, including:

(i) Isolated limb and organ perfusion;

(ii) Isolated limb and organ delivery of chemotherapeutics, progenitor cells, gene therapy vectors, and related matters;

(iii) Organ preservation;

(iv) Thermogenic lavage;

(v) Electrophysiological analysis; and

(vi) Intravascular membrane oxygenation.

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent any licensed health care professional from performing any functions for which such health care professional is legally authorized to perform."

SECTION 3.

Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 43-34-174, relating to licenses, as follows:

"43-34-174.

(a) A license is not the property of the holder but is the property of the board. A license to practice perfusion is shall be valid for two years. The board may provide that licenses expire on various dates. A person may renew an unexpired license by submitting proof of current certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) or its successor and compliance with the continuing professional education requirements prescribed by the board and paying the required renewal fee to the board before the expiration date of the license.

(b) The license holder must shall:

(1) Display the license in an appropriate and public manner; or

(2) Maintain on file at all times during which the license holder provides services in a health care facility a true and correct copy of the license certificate in the appropriate records of the facility and keep the board informed of any change of address.

(c) A license issued by the board is the property of the board and shall be surrendered on demand.

(d) Each person licensed under this article shall be responsible for renewing his or her license before the expiration date.

(e) If a person's license has been expired for not more than three months, the person may renew the license by submitting proof, satisfactory to the board, of compliance with the continuing professional education requirements prescribed by the board and any penalty fee prescribed by the board.

(f) If a person's license has been expired for more than three months, the person may not renew the license. The person may obtain a new license by submitting to reexamination and complying with the current requirements and procedures for obtaining a license.

(g) The board may reinstate without reexamination an expired license of a person who was licensed in this state, moved to another state or states, is currently licensed or certified, and has been in practice in another state or states for two years immediately preceding the person's application to reinstate a license. The person shall pay the required fee as established by the board."

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.