2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 22: HEALTH AND WELFARE › Subtitle 2: HEALTH › Part 4: HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE › Chapter 408: PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING › 22 §1963. Responsibilities of the Public Health Nursing Program

§1963. Responsibilities of the Public Health Nursing Program
The Public Health Nursing Program has the following responsibilities:   [PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. D, §4 (AMD).]
1.  Establish standards.
To establish standards for the following programs carried out by the department pursuant to state or federal laws or regulations:
A. Community nursing services in communicable diseases;   [PL 1977, c. 516 (NEW).]
B. Programs for promoting the health of mothers and children; and   [PL 1977, c. 516 (NEW).]
C. School health screening, to be done in cooperation with the Department of Education;   [PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. D, §4 (AMD).]
[PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. D, §4 (AMD).]
2.  Information.
To inform community nursing agencies of the standards in subsection 1;
[PL 1977, c. 516 (NEW).]
3.  Provide nursing services.
To provide nursing services in communities that lack these services or in which these services are inadequate according to established standards. The Public Health Nursing Program shall provide to communities within the State nursing services, including, but not limited to:
A. Treatment of and support for drug-affected babies and their parents;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
B. Assistance with public health emergencies, including, but not limited to, outbreaks of infectious disease, natural disasters and bioterrorist attacks;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
C. Early identification of children at risk of potential adverse childhood experiences to prevent future mental health and physical health issues;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
D. Support for chronic disease management to prevent costly hospitalizations and assistance to persons with chronic diseases who may not have health coverage;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
E. Early identification of persons at risk of domestic violence and referrals to community-based services as appropriate to those persons;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
F. Support for the public health infrastructure under chapter 152, including, but not limited to, the district coordinating councils for public health as defined in section 411, subsection 3 and local public health officers and the creation and implementation of district public health improvement plans;   [RR 2017, c. 1, §12 (COR).]
G. Assistance with the public health assessment and planning responsibilities of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and hospitals located within the State;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
H. Support and education for prenatal clients, parents and newborn infants who are at risk for health challenges;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
I. Support for activities of programs within the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including, but not limited to, the Universal Childhood Immunization Program under section 1066 and environmental health and tuberculosis programs;   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
J. Support for activities of programs that serve refugee and immigrant health services programs; and   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
K. Support for the assessment of unmet health needs in the elderly population, especially in rural areas, and assisting elderly persons in finding and receiving medical or community-based services; and   [PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]
[RR 2017, c. 1, §12 (COR).]
4.  Provide technical assistance.
To provide technical assistance to school health nurses, prenatal clinics, community immunization clinics and child health conferences and groups seeking to establish clinics and conferences.
[PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. D, §4 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1977, c. 516 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 700, §A75 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 502, §D4 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 312, Pt. A, §1 (AMD). RR 2017, c. 1, §12 (COR).