House File 182 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  HUNTER


    Passed House, Date                Passed Senate,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act requiring the establishment of emergency plans and
  2    procedures for dialysis patients.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 1737HH 81
  5 rn/sh/8

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  135.20  DIALYSIS PATIENTS ==
  1  2 EMERGENCY PLANS AND PROCEDURES.
  1  3    1.  A dialysis agency shall establish written plans and
  1  4 procedures designed to protect the safety of its patients
  1  5 undergoing dialysis treatment and faced with a fire, natural
  1  6 disaster, or medical emergency requiring immediate action.
  1  7 For purposes of this section, "dialysis agency" means an
  1  8 individual or entity performing dialysis treatment in a home,
  1  9 medical, or any other setting.
  1 10    2.  The plans and procedures established shall be
  1 11 individualized for each dialysis patient, and shall include,
  1 12 at a minimum, an evacuation plan from the dialysis agency's
  1 13 building or patient's home, emergency contact information for
  1 14 each patient, and the procedure for disconnecting each
  1 15 patient's dialysis equipment in the event of an emergency.  A
  1 16 dialysis agency shall familiarize its employees and patients
  1 17 with the individualized plans and procedures.
  1 18    3.  In the event of a medical emergency, a dialysis agency
  1 19 shall contact the physician specified in a patient's
  1 20 individualized plans and procedures, and follow the
  1 21 physician's instructions.  If the patient's physician is not
  1 22 available and no other physician is available who has been
  1 23 designated as a substitute contact, the dialysis agency shall
  1 24 contact the nearest hospital emergency room or clinic and seek
  1 25 instruction regarding the patient's care.
  1 26    4.  The department shall develop sample forms for
  1 27 utilization by a dialysis agency in establishing the plans and
  1 28 procedures, and shall formulate a plan for distributing
  1 29 information regarding the requirements of this section.
  1 30                           EXPLANATION
  1 31    This bill provides for the establishment of emergency plans
  1 32 and procedures for dialysis patients.
  1 33    The bill provides that a dialysis agency shall establish
  1 34 written plans and procedures designed to protect the safety of
  1 35 patients undergoing dialysis treatment and faced with a fire,
  2  1 natural disaster, or medical emergency requiring immediate
  2  2 action.  The bill defines a dialysis agency to refer to an
  2  3 individual or entity performing dialysis treatment in a home,
  2  4 medical, or any other setting.  The bill provides that the
  2  5 plans and procedures established shall be individualized for
  2  6 each dialysis patient, and shall include at a minimum an
  2  7 evacuation plan, emergency contact information, and equipment
  2  8 disconnection procedures.
  2  9    The bill provides that in the event of a medical emergency,
  2 10 a dialysis agency shall contact the physician specified in a
  2 11 patient's individualized plans and procedures, an alternative
  2 12 physician, or a nearby hospital emergency room or clinic for
  2 13 instruction regarding the patient's care.
  2 14    The bill provides that the Iowa department of public health
  2 15 shall develop sample forms for utilization by a dialysis
  2 16 agency in establishing the plans and procedures, and shall
  2 17 formulate a plan for distributing information regarding these
  2 18 requirements.
  2 19 LSB 1737HH 81
  2 20 rn:rj/sh/8