S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1083
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 7, 2021
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Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BENEDET-
TO, GALEF, GLICK, LUPARDO, MONTESANO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the
commissioner of health to develop and implement a system for uniform
patient safety
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 25
to read as follows:
§ 25. UNIFORM PATIENT SAFETY. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTA-
TION WITH STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTATIVE OF PROVIDERS OF HOSPI-
TAL AND HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM FOR
COLOR-CODING STANDARDIZATION OF MEDICAL SAFETY CONDITIONS FOR USE IN ALL
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, DEVELOP SUCH UNIFORM PATIENT SAFETY CONDI-
TIONS BY STANDARDIZING THE COLOR-CODING OF PATIENT WRIST BANDS AND
PROVIDING HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES IN THIS STATE WITH A PATIENT STANDARDI-
ZATION WHICH IS UNIFORM IN RELATION TO HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT THE UNIFORMITY OF ALL PATIENT
SAFETY THROUGH THE PROMULGATION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER
PROVIDE FOR THE SYSTEMATIC AND STANDARD APPLICATION OF A COLOR SYSTEM TO
AID IN THE CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SAFETY CONDITIONS
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDER, ALLERGIES,
FALL RISK OF THE PATIENT, ELOPEMENT AND CHOKING PRECAUTIONS.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ELOPEMENT" MEANS THAT A PATIENT
(A) HAS LEFT THE HOSPITAL, HEALTH CARE FACILITY, RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE
FACILITY OR NURSING HOME, OR THE COMPANY OF STAFF, WITHOUT AUTHORI-
ZATION; OR (B) HAS LEFT THE HOSPITAL, HEALTH CARE FACILITY, RESIDENTIAL
HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR NURSING HOME WITH AUTHORIZATION BUT HAS FAILED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01331-01-1
A. 1083 2
TO RETURN TO SUCH FACILITY LATER THAN THIRTY MINUTES BEYOND THE DESIG-
NATED TIME.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.