Senate Bill sb2520
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 2520
By Senator Siplin
19-1596-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to hospitals; creating s.
3 395.1033, F.S.; requiring the Agency for Health
4 Care Administration to adopt a model protocol
5 of uniform policies and procedures for
6 hospitals to follow in the event of a natural
7 disaster or state of emergency; requiring that
8 specified procedures be included in the model
9 protocol; requiring that hospitals provide
10 shelter space for children of hospital
11 employees who are on duty during an emergency;
12 requiring each hospital in the state to adopt
13 uniform policies and procedures to be followed
14 during an emergency based on the model protocol
15 developed by the agency; requiring that the
16 agency prescribe by rule a schedule for
17 hospitals to submit the uniform policies and
18 procedures for review and approval; providing
19 an effective date.
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21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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23 Section 1. Section 395.1033, Florida Statutes, is
24 created to read:
25 395.1033 Hospital protocol during a natural disaster
26 or state of emergency.--
27 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall
28 adopt by rule a model protocol of uniform policies and
29 procedures to be followed by hospitals licensed under this
30 chapter in the event of a natural disaster or state of
31 emergency declared under chapter 252. If an evacuation of the
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 2520
19-1596-06
1 facility may be required, the model protocol shall require
2 that the hospital update any existing agreements between the
3 hospital and ambulance services that provide transportation
4 services within the geographical boundaries served by the
5 hospital in order to ensure the prompt and orderly evacuation
6 of patients.
7 (a) The model protocol must include procedures for
8 training hospital personnel who will be called upon to carry
9 out key roles during a declared state of emergency or an
10 evacuation of hospital patients. Any reassignment of personnel
11 must be based on the employee's professional training,
12 experience, and abilities. The protocol must provide direction
13 to hospital administrators in reassigning personnel to perform
14 essential duties and functions.
15 (b) The model protocol shall require that the hospital
16 provide shelter space for the children of hospital employees
17 who are required to be on duty at the hospital during a
18 natural disaster or declared state of emergency. The shelter
19 plan must ensure that adequate staff are provided for the
20 shelter and that there is a reliable communications system.
21 (c) During the postdisaster response and recovery
22 period if supplies are available, the model protocol shall
23 require that the hospital give special consideration to
24 supplying employees with ice, food, and gasoline in order to
25 assist employees in performing their duties.
26 (2) Based on the model protocol adopted by the agency,
27 each hospital shall adopt uniform policies and procedures to
28 be implemented by the hospital in the event of a natural
29 disaster or state of emergency. The policies and procedures
30 must provide for the proper staffing of the hospital before
31 and during a declared state of emergency and for the
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2006 SB 2520
19-1596-06
1 evacuation of the hospital if necessary. The hospital shall
2 update its existing agreements with ambulance services within
3 the geographical boundaries served by the hospital in order to
4 reflect the procedures to be followed if it is necessary to
5 evacuate the hospital.
6 (3) The agency shall prescribe by rule a schedule for
7 each hospital to submit its adopted policies and procedures to
8 the agency for review and approval.
9 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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12 SENATE SUMMARY
13 Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to
adopt a model protocol of uniform policies and procedures
14 for hospitals to follow in the event of a natural
disaster or declared state of emergency. Requires that
15 the model protocol require agreements with ambulance
services for the evacuation of patients, provide staffing
16 and training requirements, and require that shelter space
be provided for children of hospital employees. Requires
17 each hospital to adopt policies and procedures based on
the agency's model protocol and submit the policies and
18 procedures to the agency for approval.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.