S-0477.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5604

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Deccio, Wojahn, Winsley, Costa, Franklin and Thibaudeau

Read first time 01/29/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Identifying health care facility workers.

    AN ACT Relating to health care facility worker identification; and adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:

    All persons employed by, volunteering with, contracting with, leasing space from, or otherwise providing health care services directly to patients at a health care facility shall wear identification badges.  The badge must display the person's first name, or first and last name, or initials or a numeric identifier, and the title of his or her profession under Title 18 RCW, or job title, if the person is not a regulated health care professional.  The badge must indicate if the person is a delegatee nursing assistant delegated tasks under chapter 18.88A RCW.  The badge must be worn on the person's clothing so that it is visible and readable.  For the purposes of this section, "health care facility" means a facility that provides health related services, including but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, health care provider's office, diagnostic or treatment center, neuropsychiatric or mental health facility, or long-term care facility required to be licensed under chapter 18.20, 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW or a home health, hospice, or home care agency licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, or contracted assisted living services under RCW 74.39A.010, or in-home independent care provider.  For the purposes of this section "person" includes but is not limited to health care provider, staff member, and all other employees, both professional and nonprofessional, as well as volunteers.  It does not include visitors or family members in adult family homes who do not regularly provide services to residents.

    The health care facility administrator or his or her designee is responsible for assuring that all persons comply with this section.  Anyone complying in good faith with the requirements of this section is immune from liability arising out of the authorized use of a health care facility identification badge.

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