BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 945

By: Nelson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that certain measures should be taken to better inform hospital patients of the level of training of health care professionals providing direct patient care. S.B. 945 seeks to establish identification requirements for certain health care providers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 945 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a hospital to adopt a policy requiring a health care provider providing direct patient care at the hospital to wear a photo identification badge during all patient encounters, unless precluded by adopted isolation or sterilization protocols.  The bill requires the badge to be of sufficient size, to be worn in a manner to be visible, and to clearly state at minimum the provider's first or last name, department of the hospital with which the provider is associated, the provider's title, as assigned by the hospital, and the provider's status as a student, intern, trainee, or resident, if applicable. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2014.