2018 -- H 7236

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LC003545

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DELEGATION OF NON-ABLATIVE

TREATMENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Tanzi, Carson, Winfield, and O`Grady

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 95

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DELEGATION OF NON-ABLATIVE TREATMENTS

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     23-95-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Delegate" means a person tasked by a licensed health care professional with

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performing non-ablative treatment.

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     (2) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.

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     (3) "Licensed health care professional" means a person who is allowed to perform

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surgery within the scope of their licensed practice.

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     (4) "Non-ablative treatment" means any laser or intense pulsed light treatment or

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treatment by another energy source, chemical, or modality that is not expected or intended to

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remove, burn, or vaporize tissue. This shall include treatments related to laser hair removal.

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     (5) "Supervision" means the overseeing of the delegated non-ablative treatment

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performed by a delegate. Supervision shall only be provided by a licensed health care

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professional.

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     23-95-2. General restrictions.

 

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     (a) The use of a laser or energy-based device that is expected or intended to remove,

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burn, or vaporize the live epidermal surface of the skin is surgery and may only be performed by

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a licensed health care professional who is allowed to perform surgery within the scope of their

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licensed practice.

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     (b) Non-ablative treatment may be performed by a delegate if the treatment has been

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delegated, the delegating licensed health care professional provides the appropriate on-site

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supervision, and the delegate has met the necessary training requirements.

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     23-95-3. Delegation of non-ablative treatment.

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     (a) Prior to delegating the performance of a non-ablative treatment, the delegating

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licensed health care professional shall perform the initial assessment of the patient to determine

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which treatment is appropriate for the patient and determine the settings on the chosen device.

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     (b) Prior to delegating the performance of a non-ablative treatment, the delegating

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licensed health care professional shall ensure that the delegate has satisfactorily met the training

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requirements and that the treatment is within the scope of practice for the delegate's profession.

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The delegating licensed health care professional is responsible for ensuring that the delegate

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performing the treatment has demonstrated sufficient proficiency for each non-ablative treatment

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performed.

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     (c) Prior to the performance of a delegated non-ablative treatment, the delegating licensed

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health care professional shall inform the patient about the training and qualifications of who will

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be performing the treatment.

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     (d) A licensed health care professional may delegate the performance of a non-ablative

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treatment through the use of a written protocol. The written protocol shall provide, at a minimum:

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     (1) The identification of the devices and settings to be used;

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     (2) A description of appropriate care and follow-up for common complications, injuries,

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or adverse reactions that may result from the treatment, including a plan to manage medical

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emergencies;

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     (3) A description of the treatment plan to be followed for each non-ablative treatment

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delegated under the written protocol, including the method to be used for documenting decisions,

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communicating with the delegating licensed health care professional, and recording all treatment

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provided in the patient's record; and

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     (4) A quality assurance plan for monitoring care provided by the delegate including

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patient care review and any necessary follow-up.

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     (e) The written protocol shall be annually reviewed by the delegating licensed health care

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professional and the delegate and updated as necessary. The written protocol shall be provided to

 

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the department or to any patient, upon request.

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     23-95-4. Supervision.

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     A delegate may only perform a delegated non-ablative treatment under the on-site

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supervision of a licensed health care professional. On-site supervision requires:

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     (1) A licensed health care professional to be physically present in the facility where the

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non-ablative treatment is to be performed for at least the entire duration of the treatment; and

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     (2) A licensed health care professional shall be immediately available and able to respond

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promptly to any question or problem that may occur while the treatment is being performed.

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     23-95-5. Training.

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     (a) A licensed health care professional who delegates the performance of a non-ablative

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treatment shall be able to document to the department, upon request, the completion of

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appropriate training in the physics, safety, and surgical techniques involved in the use of laser and

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energy-based devices capable of damaging living tissues. This training should include an

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extensive understanding of cutaneous medicine and surgery, the indications and contraindications

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for such procedures, the pre- and post-operative care involved in treatment, as well as the

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treatment of complications associated with these devices.

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     (b) For each non-ablative treatment to be performed, it is the responsibility of the

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delegating licensed health care professional to ensure that the delegate is appropriately trained in

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the indications and contraindications and the pre- and post-operative care involved in treatment.

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     23-95-6. Violations and enforcement.

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     Failure to comply with any provision under this chapter or knowingly delegating a non-

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ablative treatment other than as authorized under this chapter shall constitute unprofessional

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conduct pursuant to the licensing statute under which the delegating licensed health care

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professional practices.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DELEGATION OF NON-ABLATIVE

TREATMENTS

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     This act would provide guidelines for the delegation by licensed health care professionals

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of non-ablative laser or energy-based treatments to a properly-qualified delegate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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