06 LC 33 1369S
(SCS)
Senate
Resolution 853
By:
Senators Hill of the 32nd, Unterman of the 45th, Tate of the 38th, Thomas of the
54th and Goggans of the 7th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Hospital Health Care Standards Commission; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between
44,000 to 98,000 Americans die each year from adverse patient events;
and
WHEREAS,
over the past two decades, the hospitalized patient population has become more
severely ill and more immuno-compromised and thus at greater risk for hospital
acquired infections; and
WHEREAS,
the responsibilities of infection control departments in hospitals have markedly
expanded to include prevention of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and
prevention of
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis or multidrug-resistant
bacterial transmission; and
WHEREAS,
there exists a need to conduct infection surveillance systems, determine
baseline infection rates for comparison, improve device and antimicrobial drug
use, and educate hospital staff about prevention of infectious diseases;
and
WHEREAS,
because of their expertise in epidemiologic methods, infection control personnel
can assist in establishing and implementing infection control, quality
assurance, and medical error reduction programs in hospital settings;
and
WHEREAS,
patient safety requires a commitment of health care providers to provide open
communication, a blame-free environment, and the importance of safety design in
preventing future errors; and
WHEREAS,
acknowledging that success in creating a culture of safety requires the
commitment of both organizational leadership and frontline health care workers;
and
WHEREAS,
health care providers, regulators, and the community should work together to
ensure quality and safety in healthy communities, and collaboration between
providers, community members, and other stakeholders by providing education and
data-driven tools is key to facilitating quality improvement; and
WHEREAS,
hospitals strive to improve the safety and quality of that care and research has
shown that certain kinds of information technology – such as computerized
physician order entry, computerized decision support systems, and bar coding for
medication administration – can limit errors and improve care by ensuring
that the right information is available in the right place at the right time to
treat patients; and
WHEREAS,
information technology can also be a tool for improving efficiency and saving
costs; and
WHEREAS,
because the Georgia Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) has
extensive experience in using data to identify successful strategies, the
promotion of best practices, and shared learning to reduce adverse events, PHA
can organize and coordinate state-wide programs and activities to reduce
hospital acquired infections; and
WHEREAS,
the state must ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, the rate of
hospital acquired infections of patients in hospitals in this state is
minimized.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Hospital Health Care Standards Commission for Prevention of Hospital
Acquired Infections to be composed of 15 members as follows: three members of
the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate
Committee on Assignments; and the following members to be appointed by the
Governor: one hospital administrator representing an urban area, one hospital
administrator representing a rural area, one registered nurse in a hospital
supervisory or administrative position, one registered nurse practicing
infection control, one physician representing the Medical Association of
Georgia, one representative from the Georgia Hospital Association, one
representative from the Georgia Partnership for Health and Accountability, one
representative from the Georgia Alliance for Community Hospitals, and one
researcher specializing in infectious diseases. The Georgia Hospital
Association and the Medical Association of Georgia may make recommendations to
the Governor with regard to the
Governoŕs
appointees. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate
Committee on Assignments shall each designate a cochairperson from among their
respective appointees. The commission shall meet at the call of the
cochairpersons.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall undertake a study of safety
standards and best practices in hospitals in this state and rates and causes of
hospital acquired infections. The commission may conduct such meetings at such
places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to
exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish
the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the
commission shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of
interim legislative committees from the funds appropriated to the House of
Representatives and the Senate but shall receive the same for not more than five
days unless additional days are authorized. Citizen members shall receive a
daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code
Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as well as the mileage
or transportation allowance authorized for state employees. The funds necessary
to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds
appropriated to the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the event the
commission makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions
for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before
December 31, 2006. The commission shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.