Sen. Leising has introduced SB 182 which basically requires a health care practitioner to disclose the nature of his or her licensure in any advertising and to wear a badge while providing direct health care that states their name and licensure. This applies to a “practitioner” which is defined as someone who holds a license, certificate, or permit regulated by a variety of regulatory boards (e.g. chiropractic, nursing, dentistry, medical licensing, optometry, podiatrist, pharmacy, psychiatry, psychology, physical therapy, audiology, athletic trainer).
It requires that, when advertising for health care services (not defined, I don’t believe), the practitioner must prominently identify in the advertisement the type of license held by the practitioner. It also provides that, with certain exceptions, when providing direct patient care, the practitioner must wear an identification badge. “Direct patient care” is defined as “health care that provides for the physical, diagnostic, emotional, or rehabilitation needs of a patient, or health care that involves examination, treatment, or preparation for diagnostic tests or procedures.” The badge must state the practitioner’s first and last name, the type of licensure using the name of the relevant profession, and – if applicable – the practitioner’s status as a student, intern, trainee, or resident. Exceptions to the badge requirements are permitted if it’s not clinically feasible (e.g. during surgery), where there is some concern for the practitioner’s safety (not stated – but I’m thinking having the last name on the badge while providing care to a violent criminal?), the relevant information is already posted on the door to the office, or if the practitioner has the information posted on the wall of their office.
Health care already feels like such an inscrutable maze, I guess I’m not optimistic that these additional bits of information will really make a dent in the challenges we face as health care consumers. It feels like drops of water in the ocean. Meanwhile this adds just a bit more bureaucracy to the system.
There needs to be a -reasonable- clause or exemption for ems. As a volunteer EMT, when I’m at my day gig the and guy in the business two doors down is having a heart attack he probably wants me there doing cpr as fast as I can and isn’t too concerned with scrambling to find my name tag before I run out the door.
I think that would be covered by the exemption for “delivering direct patient care if it is not clinically
feasible, including in an operating room, an emergency or trauma setting, a setting where surgical or invasive procedures are performed, or a setting where maintaining a sterile environment is medically necessary.”
Leising, the queen of cursive writing, is a solution searching for a problem. Providers in most healthcare settings wear badges that identify themselves, their licensure or certification, and their area of practice.
With regards to advertisement, I have never personally seen a practicioner advertisement that did not identify the licensure or practice area. Also, I can’t recall advertisements other than general health systems or practice groups, chiropractors, or pill mill pain “pain clinics.”
I understand the intent, I think, but this seems over-broad. What is the benefit to me as a consumer of health care to have my therapist wear a compliant ID badge during regular sessions. I can see more usefulness for interactions with people I don’t normally see (e.g. not my therapist or my general practitioner). I don’t like the “we can’t solve smaller problems until the bigger problems are all fixed” approach, but this really doesn’t seem like it’s anywhere near the most pressing issue in American health care.
This sounds like someone’s personal gripe about some event where a health practitioner forgot to wear his/her badge, so let’s pass a law. I can’t imaging a practitioner wearing a badge at his/her private practice setting, when there is a big sign out front that says, “John Smith, D.O., FACS. Orthopedic Surgeon”. If he/she isn’t wearing that badge, is someone likely to stumble into the place wondering why it’s not electrical supply store?