Bill Text: NJ A4391 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires hospitals to establish sensory friendly treatment and waiting rooms in emergency department settings.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A4391 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4391-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires hospitals to establish sensory friendly treatment and waiting rooms in emergency department settings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning sensory friendly rooms in hospital emergency departments and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. (1) Each general hospital and satellite emergency department shall establish at least one pediatric and one adult emergency department treatment room designed for exclusive use in the treatment or observation of individuals with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition that may cause the individuals to become agitated, distressed, overstimulated, upset, aggressive, or disoriented when encountering conditions typical to a hospital emergency department, including loud noises, bright lights, and busy or frenetic activity.
(2) These designated treatment rooms shall be designed using an evidence-based approach to addressing the sensory needs of individuals with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition that may cause the individuals to become agitated, distressed, overstimulated, upset, aggressive, or disoriented by the conditions of the emergency department. The designated treatment rooms shall isolate occupants of the room from the intrusive sights and sounds of the emergency department, but shall be readily accessible by facility staff to provide treatment and other patient services.
b. (1) No later than one year after the effective date of this act, each general hospital and satellite emergency department shall establish a designated sensory friendly waiting space within the facility's emergency department for the use of individuals with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition that may cause the individual to become agitated, distressed, overstimulated, upset, aggressive, or disoriented when encountering conditions typical to a hospital emergency department, including loud noises, bright lights, and busy or frenetic activity.
(2) The designated sensory friendly waiting space shall be designed in a manner that isolates the space from the sights and sounds of the emergency department, but which is readily accessible by facility staff and permits ready communications with family members of emergency department patients who are utilizing the designated sensory friendly waiting area.
c. Each general hospital and satellite emergency department shall develop written policies and procedures concerning the use of the designated treatment rooms required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section and the designated sensory friendly waiting area required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section.
d. Each general hospital and satellite emergency department shall require all emergency department staff to complete a training program approved by the Commissioner of Health concerning interactions that occur in the emergency department setting with individuals who have a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition. The training program shall include informational materials and practical techniques to minimize potential stressors and mitigate the traumatic effects of a visit to the hospital emergency department for such individuals.
e. As used in this section, "general hospital and satellite emergency department" means such a facility licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).
2. The Commissioner of Health, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedures Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), and in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires general hospitals and satellite emergency departments to designate one pediatric and one adult sensory friendly treatment room, as well as one sensory friendly waiting area, within the facility's emergency department for the express use of individuals with a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition that may cause the individual to become agitated, distressed, overstimulated, upset, aggressive, or disoriented when encountering conditions typical to a hospital emergency department, including loud noises, bright lights, and busy or frenetic activity. The designated treatment rooms and waiting area are to be designed in a manner that isolates the occupants from the sights and sounds of the emergency department, while also being readily accessible by facility staff.
Hospitals and satellite emergency departments will be required to develop written policies and procedures concerning the use of the designated treatment rooms and waiting area, and will additionally be required to ensure that all emergency department staff complete a training program approved by the Commissioner of Health concerning interactions in the emergency department setting with individuals who have a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other neurological or mental health condition. The training program is to include both informational materials and practical techniques to minimize potential stressors and mitigate the traumatic effects of an emergency department visit for such individuals.
This bill also requires hospitals to designate the pediatric and adult treatment rooms immediately, and to establish the sensory friendly waiting areas within one year after the date the bill is enacted.
