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IAHCSMM maintains that every patient deserves to have a certified central service technician reprocessing his/her instruments and will actively promote laws and regulations to ensure certification of central sterile supply personnel at the state level.
An Act relating to persons functioning as central service technicians in certain health care facilities.
SECTION 1. For the purposes of this section, the terms:
(a) “Central Service Technicians” shall mean a person who provides the services of decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization, and storage and distribution of resusable medical instrumentation or devices in healthcare facilities.
(b) “Healthcare facility” shall mean a hospital or an ambulatory surgical facility as defined in _________.
(c) "Healthcare professional" shall mean a person licensed or certified pursuant to __________.
SECTION 2. A person shall not function as a central service technician in a healthcare facility and a healthcare facility shall not employ or otherwise contract for the services of a central service technician unless the person meets one of the following:
(a) Holds and maintains the Certified Registered Central Service Technician credential administered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) or the Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician credential administered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD) or another credentialing agency acceptable to the commissioner; or
(b) Provides evidence that the person was employed or otherwise contracted for the services as a central service technician in a healthcare facility on or in the two years immediately prior to the effective date of this section. In furtherance of this clause, any contractor or employer of persons functioning as a central service technician on the effective date of this section shall confirm in writing to such employee or contractor his or her employment in a capacity functioning as a central service technician in a healthcare facility as of the effective date of this section; or
(c) Is a student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician if the student or intern is under the direct supervision of an appropriately licensed or certified healthcare professional and is functioning within the scope of the student or intern’s training.
SECTION 3. A central service technician that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section shall have twelve months from the date of hire to obtain the Certified Registered Central Service Technician credential or the Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician credential.
SECTION 4. A person who qualifies to function as a central service technician in a healthcare facility under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision two of this section must annually complete ten hours of continuing education to remain qualified to function as a central service technician.
SECTION 5. A central service technician shall document in writing good cause that prevents compliance with the continuing education requirement as prescribed in subdivision (4) of this section, which shall include any of the following reasons: a medical condition which requires an extended leave of absence and is documented by an appropriate healthcare professional or extended active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States. If one of these conditions is met, an extension to meeting the continuing education requirement, as prescribed in subdivision (4) of this section, may be made by:
(a) International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management or the Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician credential administered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. for a central service technician under paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of this section; or
(b) A healthcare facility for a central service technician under paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of this section.
If an extension is granted, a central service technician shall complete all past due continuing education requirements within ninety days upon resolution of a medical condition or extended active duty with the Armed forces of the United States.
SECTION 6. A healthcare facility who employs or contracts with a central service technician shall upon request of a central service technician employed by, formerly employed by or contracted to perform as a central service technician at the healthcare facility, verify the dates of employment or contract of such person.
SECTION 7. Nothing in this article shall prohibit any licensed healthcare professional from performing central service technicians’ tasks or functions if the person is acting within the scope of his or her license.
SECTION 8. The Department shall enforce the provisions of this section.
SECTION 9. The Commissioner may make, adopt, promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations as he or she may deem appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this section.
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect on _________.
Click here to download the Model Certification bill