H 3902 General Bill, By Finlay, Henderson, Quinn, Bingham, Atwater and 
D.C. Moss
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 44-7-3420, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE LEWIS BLACKMAN HOSPITAL
 PATIENT SAFETY ACT, SO AS TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER"
 AND "HEALTH CARE FACILITY"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-3435 SO AS TO REQUIRE
 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO WEAR IDENTIFICATION BADGES DISPLAYING CERTAIN
 INFORMATION.

   04/09/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 50)
   04/09/13  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 50)

TO AMEND SECTION 44-7-3420, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE LEWIS BLACKMAN HOSPITAL PATIENT SAFETY ACT, SO AS TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" AND "HEALTH CARE FACILITY"; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-3435 SO AS TO REQUIRE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO WEAR IDENTIFICATION BADGES DISPLAYING CERTAIN INFORMATION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 44-7-3420 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 146 of 2005, is amended by adding appropriately numbered items at the end:

"( )    'Health care practitioner' means a person who provides health care in South Carolina and is regulated by Title 40.

( )    'Health care facility' means a setting in South Carolina, other than a hospital, where health care services are rendered."

SECTION    2.    Article 27, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-7-3435.    All health care practitioners providing health care in a health care facility shall wear badges clearly stating their names, using at a minimum either first or last names with appropriate initials, their job or trainee titles, level of training, and name of state licensing board under which they are regulated. This information must be clearly visible and must be stated in terms reasonably understandable to the average person, as recognized by the Department of Health and Environmental Control."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.