BILL NUMBER:S2434

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring
hospitals to establish and utilize procedural medical checklists for
the provision of all intensive care unit medical procedures

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill will improve patient health and reduce system-wide health
care costs by requiring the use of a proven patient safety checklist
in intensive care unit (ICU) medical procedures.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

§ 1 adds a new subdivision 11 to § 2803 of the Public Health Law,
providing that the Commissioner of Health shall by role or regulation
require every hospital to establish, utilize and complete a checklist
for each ICU medical procedure occurring at such hospital. Such
checklists shall be designed and used for the purposes of reducing
infections and related illnesses, improving the health and safety of
patients, and ensuring that the necessary equipment, supplies,
facilities and personnel are available for the conduct of the ICU
procedure. The rules and regulations shall be promulgated within 180
days of the subdivision's effective date.
              

EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER:

New York State currently has no statutory or regulatory provisions
requiring the use of patient safety checklists in conducting ICU
medical procedures.

JUSTIFICATION:

Health care associated infections (HAIs) are one of the top ten
leading causes of death in the United States, and they are estimated
to add hundreds of millions of donors to the costs of healthcare.
Central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) can occur as
a result of catheterization of patients in intensive care -- they are
estimated to account for 15% of the roughly 1.7 million HAIs in the
United States, but as many as 30% of the 99,000 annual
infection-related deaths.

Most CLABSIs can be prevented through the use of a straightforward
patient safety checklist that has been proven to be successful in the
field. In a recent Michigan study, use of the checklist resulted in a
66% reduction in CLABSIs, reflected in an estimated savings of 1500
lives and $200 million in the first 18 months.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is calling on
hospitals to use this basic tool to reduce central line infections in
ICUs. However, many hospitals have not yet adopted the checklist. This
bill will ensure that patients receive the same high-quality health
care regardless of which hospital in New York State provides their
treatment.


PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: Senate Bill #615 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Health Committee
2012: Senate Bill #2514 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Health Committee
2012: Assembly Bill #4908 (Simotas) - Died in Assembly Health
Committee
2010: Assembly Bill #10494 (Gianaris) - Died in Assembly Health
Committee

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediately.