H-95                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1925

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Schoon and Youngsman

Read first time 2/10/89 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to diseases transmitted during hospital procedures; adding a new section to chapter 70.24 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that AIDS and hepatitis B virus pose a significant threat to hospital emergency room medical personnel.  Health care personnel working in emergency room settings are currently under risk of acquiring infection with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) virus and/or hepatitis B virus, because of the invasive surgical procedures they must undertake and a higher than normal risk of encountering AIDS-infected trauma patients requiring these procedures.  The legislature also finds that the exigencies of trauma care may make it difficult to comply with the usual infection control procedures.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 70.24 RCW to read as follows:

          After January 1, 1990, all hospital-based emergency rooms shall establish a testing procedure and test all patients admitted to an emergency room who require invasive emergency procedures.  Emergency rooms shall establish recordkeeping procedures and maintain records in accordance with established hospital guidelines.  All positive test results and instances of AIDS and hepatitis B transmitted in the hospital shall be reported to the health department within twenty-four hours.