Bill Text: NJ S1639 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires use of stethoscope covers in health care facilities and by health care professionals.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-05 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S1639 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S1639-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires use of stethoscope covers in health care facilities and by health care professionals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of stethoscope covers and supplementing Title 26 and Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall be required to develop a policy to ensure that the bells or diaphragms of stethoscopes are covered with disposable stethoscope covers when used in patient examinations, and that such covers are disposed after each patient examination. The policy shall be filed with the Department of Health.
b. The Commissioner of Health may grant to a facility an exemption to the requirements of subsection a. of this section for a health care facility that demonstrates that it can ensure that all stethoscopes used in the facility are sterilized before each patient examination, or if the facility's staff do not use stethoscopes in patient examinations.
c. A health care facility that fails to file a policy with the Department of Health pursuant to subsection a. of this section and that has not received an exemption pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be liable to a civil penalty determined by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-16).
2. a. A health care professional who is licensed or otherwise certified to practice a health care profession pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes shall ensure that the bells or diaphragms of stethoscopes are covered with disposable stethoscope covers when used in patient examinations, and that such covers are disposed after each patient examination.
b. A professional licensing board for health care professionals may grant to a professional regulated by the board an exemption to the requirements of subsection a. of this section if the professional demonstrates that he can ensure that all stethoscopes used by the professional are sterilized before each patient examination.
c. A health care professional who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section and that has not received an exemption pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action and civil penalties pursuant to sections 8, 9, and 12 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21, C.45:1-22, and C.45:1-25).
3. The Commissioner of Health and each health care professional licensing board in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety may, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations as they deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health and the health care professional licensing boards in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires health care facilities and health care professionals to use disposable stethoscope covers. When stethoscopes are used in patient examinations, the bell or diaphragm of the stethoscope can become contaminated with infectious agents, which can be spread to other patients if the stethoscope is not properly sterilized. Using stethoscope covers that can be disposed of after each patient examination is an effective way to prevent the spread of infections in the health care system.
The bill requires health care facilities to file a policy with the Department of Health to ensure that the bells or diaphragms of stethoscopes are covered with disposable stethoscope covers when used in patient examinations, and that such covers are disposed after each patient examination. A facility that demonstrates that it can ensure that all stethoscopes used in the facility are sterilized before each patient examination, or if the facility's staff do not use stethoscopes in patient examinations, can apply for an exemption to this requirement. Failure to comply would result in a civil penalty imposed by the Department of Health.
The bill also requires health care professionals to ensure that the bells or diaphragms of stethoscopes are covered with disposable stethoscope covers when used in patient examinations, and that such covers are disposed after each patient examination. A professional licensing board could grant an exemption to a professional who demonstrates that he can ensure that all stethoscopes used by the professional are sterilized before each patient examination. Failure to comply would result in disciplinary action and civil penalties imposed by the relevant licensing board.
