Health facilities: surgical technologists.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of the provisions governing health facilities constitutes a misdemeanor. Existing law requires specified health facilities to employ a dietitian and requires health facilities owned and operated by the state offering care within the scope of practice of a psychologist to establish rules and medical staff bylaws that include provisions for medical staff membership and clinical privileges for clinical psychologists, as specified. This bill would prohibit a health facility, as defined, from employing a surgical technologist or contracting with an individual to practice surgical technology at the facility, unless the individual possesses specified training and certification or was practicing surgical technology at a health facility at any time prior to January 1, 2015. The bill would exempt a facility from this requirement if the facility documents its inability to recruit a sufficient number of individuals that meet the requirements regarding training and certification or prior practice, as specified, and would require that certain individuals complete specified continuing education or skills training in surgical technology. The bill would provide that a violation of these requirements is not a crime.