Establishes standards and programs relating to the prevention and/or reduction of the incidence of hospital-acquired infections

1 Co-sponsor

• Tom Libous

BILL NUMBER:S4023A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing standards and programs relating to the prevention and/or reduction of the incidence of hospital-acquired infections

Purpose or general idea of bill

This is a study bill to examine the concept of requiring that hospitals and residential health care facilities develop in..house training programs and to establish standards to reduce or prevent the high incidence of hospital-acquired infections. Such standards would be developed by the Commissioner of Health, after consultation with the state's hospitals on how best to approach this problem.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Adds Public Health Law section 2819-a to require the Commissioner to promulgate and administer regulations and policies governing the prevention and/or reduction of hospital-acquired infections in patients in hospitals and residential health care facilities. Each facility would be required to develop, adopt and implement a coordinated plan to provide adequate training of sterile processing professionals within 180 days of the adoption of the regulations.

Section 2: Adds Public Health Law section 2819-b provides definitions and requirements for each general hospital to ensure that sterile processing professionals receive such training. Sterile Processing Professionals shall mean staff that performs cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and inventory management activities in the hospital setting.

Justification

There has been an increasing incidence of in-born hospital acquired infections and an increasing public concern about such trends. These infections can lead to serious and further complications in patient care and safety. One critical tool in the effort to prevent these infections is to ensure that there are properly trained sterile processing professionals in each hospital and residential health care facility.

The goal of this study bill is to determine if hospitals can alter how they operate their hospitals to help decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. Further, if it is cost effective to provide training to the sterile processing professionals that health care facilities employ in order to ensure better sterilization practices and reduce instances of hospital acquired infections.

The bill does not seek to add a new costly financial or staff time requirement burden to health care facilities, but rather to provide a

tool for reducing the risks and costs associated with hospital-acquired infections. In the long run, by effectively reducing such infection rates, this will lead to better patient outcomes and lower health care costs for subscribers.

Prior legislative history

2009-2010: A.294 2007-2008: A.9646

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

On the 180th day after it shall have become law.