2016 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:1271.1 - Infectious diseases; notification

PART VI. REPORTING OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

§1271.1. Infectious diseases; notification

            A.(1) If, while treating or transporting an ill or injured patient to a hospital, an emergency medical technician, paramedic, firefighter, police officer, or other person who is employed by or voluntarily working with a firm, agency, or organization which provides emergency treatment or transportation comes into direct contact with a patient who is subsequently diagnosed as having untreated pulmonary tuberculosis or acute meningococcal meningitis, or comes in contact with the blood or body fluid of a person who is subsequently diagnosed as having acute hepatitis virus B infection, or is a chronic hepatitis B carrier, or is infected with human immunodeficiency virus, the hospital receiving the patient shall notify the appropriate firm, agency, or organization which shall notify its emergency medical technician, paramedic, firefighter, police officer, emergency medical transportation service employer, or other person treating or transporting the patient of the individual's exposure to the infectious disease within forty-eight hours of confirmation of the patient's diagnosis and shall advise same of the appropriate treatment, if any. Notification shall be made in a manner that protects the confidentiality of the patient and the emergency medical technician, paramedic, police officer, or other person treating or transporting the patient.

            (2) Prior to October 30, 1988, the Louisiana Department of Health shall, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, promulgate rules and regulations for the notification procedures required under the provisions of this Subsection.

            B.(1) Whenever a patient is admitted to a hospital or nursing home by a physician, and that physician has actual knowledge that the patient is infected with one or more of the conditions described in Subsection A hereof, and is aware of the transfer, the physician shall notify the hospital or nursing home of the patient's condition.

            (2) Whenever a patient is transferred from a nursing home to a hospital, or from a hospital to a nursing home, and the transferor's records reflect that patient is infected with one or more of the conditions described in Subsection A hereof, the transferor shall notify the transferee of the patient's condition.

            (3) Whenever a patient is admitted to or treated at a hospital or nursing home and the hospital or nursing home has actual knowledge that the patient is infected with one or more of the conditions described in Subsection A hereof, the hospital or nursing home shall notify all health care providers involved in the treatment of that patient of the patient's condition.

            C. For purposes of this Subpart, "hospital" means any institution, place, building, or agency, public or private, whether operated for profit or not, devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment, or care of persons admitted for overnight stay or longer who are suffering from illness, injury, infirmity, deformity, or other physical conditions for which obstetrical, medical, or surgical services would be available and appropriate. The term "hospital" specifically includes any emergency room or outpatient clinic operated in connection with a hospital as herein defined, whether or not the patient is admitted for overnight stay.

            Acts 1987, No. 805, §1, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1988, No. 104, §1, eff. June 29, 1988; Acts 1991, No. 968, §1, eff. July 24, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 898, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1099 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.