Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Permits flexible use of licensed hospital bed capacity for pediatric and adult patient care under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning pediatric and adult patient care in hospitals and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act:
"Hospital" means an acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), which contains a pediatric care unit.
"Pediatric care unit" means a unit located within a hospital which utilizes licensed beds to provide pediatric care for patients, including a pediatric intensive or critical care unit and pediatric psychiatric unit.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other State law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a hospital may temporarily admit a patient under 18 years of age into an appropriate adult patient care unit, provided that:
(1) the hospital's pediatric care unit has no more available licensed beds for the pediatric patient;
(2) no adult patients are admitted to the adult patient care unit while the pediatric patient is admitted to the unit;
(3) the hospital staffs the adult patient care unit with adequate and appropriate pediatric care staff to treat the pediatric patient;
(4) the pediatric patient is transferred to the appropriate pediatric care unit when a licensed bed is available and when clinically appropriate; and
(5) following the discharge of the pediatric patient, the adult patient care unit can resume the admission of adult patients into the unit.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other State law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a hospital may temporarily admit an adult patient into an appropriate pediatric care unit, provided that:
(1) the hospital's adult patient care unit has no more available licensed beds for the adult patient;
(2) no pediatric patients are admitted to the pediatric care unit while the adult patient is admitted to the unit;
(3) the hospital staffs the pediatric care unit with adequate and appropriate adult patient care staff to treat the adult patient;
(4) the adult patient is transferred to the appropriate adult patient care unit when a licensed bed is available and when clinically appropriate; and
(5) following the discharge of the adult patient from the pediatric care unit, the pediatric care unit can resume the admission of pediatric patients into the unit.
2. The Commissioner of Health shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill permits licensed hospitals with pediatric care units to temporarily admit patients under 18 years of age into an appropriate adult patient care unit or adult patients into an appropriate pediatric care unit under certain circumstances.
Under the bill, a hospital may temporarily admit a patient under 18 years of age into an appropriate adult patient care unit, provided that: the hospital's pediatric care unit has no more available licensed beds for the pediatric patient; no adult patients are admitted to the adult patient care unit while the pediatric patient is admitted to the unit; the hospital staffs the adult patient care unit with adequate and appropriate pediatric care staff to treat the pediatric patient; the pediatric patient is transferred to the appropriate pediatric care unit when a licensed bed is available and when clinically appropriate; and following the discharge of the pediatric patient, the adult patient care unit can resume the admission of adult patients into the unit.
Under the bill, a hospital may temporarily admit an adult patient into an appropriate pediatric care unit, provided that: the hospital's adult patient care unit has no more available licensed beds for the adult patient; no pediatric patients are admitted to the pediatric care unit while the adult patient is admitted to the unit; the hospital staffs the pediatric care unit with adequate and appropriate adult patient care staff to treat the adult patient; the adult patient is transferred to the appropriate adult patient care unit when a licensed bed is available and when clinically appropriate; and following the discharge of the adult patient from the pediatric care unit, the pediatric care unit can resume the admission of pediatric patients into the unit.
The bill defines "hospital" to mean an acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and which contains a pediatric care unit. The bill defines "pediatric care unit" to mean a unit located within a hospital which utilizes licensed beds to provide pediatric care for patients, including a pediatric intensive or critical care unit and pediatric psychiatric unit.