Bill > A4443

Introduced Session

This bill establishes protocols for treating emergency room patients with dementia. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is to establish protocols for employees of hospitals to follow when treating an emergency room patient with dementia. The protocols are to include, at a minimum: (1) guidelines for identifying a patient who has dementia or a related disorder; (2) guidelines for communicating with a patient who has dementia or a related disorder; (3) guidelines for caring for a patient with dementia or a related disorder who has become confused or disoriented; (4) ensuring hospital staff are informed of which patients have been identified as having dementia or a related disorder; (5) permitting a patient with dementia or a related disorder to have a family member or caregiver accompany the patient throughout his or her stay in the hospital; and (6) informing a patient with dementia or a related disorder that the patient is entitled to have a family member or caregiver accompany the patient throughout his or her stay in the hospital. The bill defines "dementia" to mean a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes due to organic brain disease, for which no curative treatment is available, and marked by memory disorders, changes in personality, deterioration in personal care, impaired reasoning ability, and disorientation.

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Daniel Benson (D)*,  Ralph Caputo (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee (on 07/23/2020)