07 LC 33
1953
House
Bill 589
By:
Representatives Butler of the
18th,
Sheldon of the
105th,
Parsons of the
42nd,
and Sims of the
169th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as
to provide for requirements relating to circulating nurses for surgical services
performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, is amended by striking
subsection (a) of Code Section 31-7-2.1, relating to rules and regulations,
availability of reports of cited deficiencies, and disclosure of survey
worksheets and documents, and inserting in its place the following:
"(a)(1)
The department shall adopt and promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations
which in its judgment are necessary to protect the health and lives of patients
and shall prescribe and set out the kind and quality of building, equipment,
facilities, and institutional services which institutions shall have and use in
order to properly care for their patients.
(2)
Such rules and regulations shall require that all nursing homes annually offer
unless contraindicated, contingent on availability, an influenza virus vaccine
to all medicare and Medicaid-eligible patients and private-pay patients in their
facilities, in accordance with the rules and regulations established pursuant to
this subsection. Such rules and regulations shall also require that all nursing
homes annually offer unless contraindicated, contingent on availability, a
pneumococcal bacteria vaccine to all medicare-eligible patients and all
private-pay patients, 65 years of age or older, in their facilities, in
accordance with the rules and regulations established pursuant to this
subsection.
(3)
With regard to surgical services performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical
center, such rules and regulations shall also provide that:
(A)
There shall be sufficient nursing personnel so that one circulating nurse is in
each separate operating room where surgery is being performed;
(B)
There shall be sufficient nursing personnel so that one circulating nurse is in
each separate obstetrical room at every infant delivery;
(C)
Surgical technologists and licensed practical nurses may function as a second
circulator in an operating room or obstetrical room under the direct supervision
of the circulating nurse; and
(D)
A circulating nurse shall be a registered nurse qualified by training and
experience in surgical nursing services, as determined by the Georgia Board of
Nursing."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.