Bill Text: FL S0360 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-05-03 - Died in Appropriations [S0360 Detail]

Download: Florida-2013-S0360-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2013                              CS for SB 360
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Health Policy; and Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       588-03416-13                                           2013360c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to surgical assistants and surgical
    3         technologists; amending s. 395.0191, F.S.; providing
    4         definitions; providing requirements for health care
    5         facilities that employ or contract with surgical
    6         assistants and surgical technologists; providing
    7         exceptions to these requirements; providing an
    8         effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (11) is added to section 395.0191,
   13  Florida Statutes, to read:
   14         395.0191 Staff membership and clinical privileges.—
   15         (11) SURGICAL ASSISTANTS AND SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS.—
   16         (a) Definitions.—As used in this subsection, the term:
   17         1. “Certified surgical assistant” means a surgical
   18  assistant who maintains valid and active one of the following
   19  certifications:
   20         a. Certified Surgical First Assistant from the National
   21  Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
   22         b. Certified Surgical Assistant from the National Surgical
   23  Assistant Association.
   24         c. Surgical Assistant-Certified from the American Board of
   25  Surgical Assistants.
   26         2. “Certified surgical technologist” means a surgical
   27  technologist who maintains valid and active certification as a
   28  Certified Surgical Technologist from the National Board of
   29  Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
   30         3. “Surgeon” means any health care practitioner as defined
   31  in chapter 456 whose scope of practice includes performing
   32  surgery and who is listed as the primary surgeon in the
   33  operative record.
   34         4. “Surgical assistant” means a person who provides aid
   35  under the supervision of a surgeon in exposure, hemostasis,
   36  closures, and other intraoperative technical functions and
   37  assists the surgeon in performing a safe operation with optimal
   38  results for the patient.
   39         5. “Surgical technologist” means a person who assists and
   40  practices under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the
   41  operating room environment is safe, that proper equipment is
   42  available, and that the operative procedure is conducted
   43  efficiently. Surgical technologist duties include, but are not
   44  limited to, maintaining sterility during a surgical procedure,
   45  handling and ensuring the availability of necessary equipment
   46  and supplies, and maintaining visibility of the operative site.
   47         (b) Employment limitations.—
   48         1. A facility may not employ or contract with any person to
   49  perform the duties of a surgical assistant unless the person is
   50  a certified surgical assistant.
   51         2. A facility may not employ or contract with any person to
   52  perform the duties of a surgical technologist unless the person
   53  is a certified surgical technologist.
   54         3. Subparagraphs 1. and 2. do not apply to:
   55         a. A person who was employed or contracted to perform the
   56  duties of a surgical technologist or a surgical assistant at any
   57  time between January 1, 2013, and July 1, 2013.
   58         b. A health care practitioner as defined in chapter 456 or
   59  a student if the duties he or she performs fall within the scope
   60  of the practitioner’s or the student’s training and practice.
   61         c. A person enrolled in a surgical technology or surgical
   62  assisting training program accredited by the Commission on
   63  Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the
   64  Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or another
   65  accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of
   66  Education on July 1, 2013. A person may practice as a surgical
   67  technologist or a surgical assistant for 1 year after completion
   68  of such a training program before he or she is required to meet
   69  the criteria in subparagraphs 1. or 2.
   70         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.