Florida Administrative Code › 59 - AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION › 59A - Health Facility and Agency Licensing › Chapter 59A-9 - ABORTION CLINICS › Section 59A-9.023 - Clinical Personnel

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
Abortions shall be performed only by a licensed physician who
				  has admitting privileges at a hospital within reasonable proximity to the
				  clinic. Physician admitting privileges are optional if the clinic has a written
				  transfer agreement with a hospital within reasonable proximity. At the time of
				  transfer the clinic shall provide to the receiving hospital a copy of the
				  patient's medical records related to the pregnancy being terminated. Each
				  abortion clinic providing second trimester abortions shall have a staff that is
				  adequately trained and capable of providing appropriate service and supervision
				  to the patients. The clinic will have a position description for each position
				  delineating duties and responsibilities and maintain personnel records for all
				  employees performing or monitoring patients receiving a second trimester
				  abortion.
(1) Physicians.
The clinic shall designate a licensed physician to serve as a
				  medical director. Only physicians authorized by the medical director and the
				  clinic shall perform abortions.
(2) Nursing Personnel.
Nursing personnel in the clinic shall be governed by written
				  policies and procedures relating to patient care, establishment of standards
				  for nursing care and mechanisms for evaluating such care, and nursing
				  services.
(3) Allied health
				professionals, working under appropriate direction and supervision, may be
				employed to work only within areas where their competency has been
				established.
(4) Orientation. Each
				clinic shall have and execute a written orientation program to familiarize each
				new staff member, including volunteers, with the clinic and its policies and
				procedures, to include fire safety, medical emergencies, and infection
				control.
(5) In-service Training.
				In-service training programs shall be planned and provided for all employees
				including full time, part time and contract employees, at the beginning of
				employment and no less than annually thereafter and will also apply to all
				volunteers to insure and maintain their understanding of their duties and
				responsibilities. Records shall be maintained to reflect program content and
				individual attendance. The following training shall be provided no less than
				annually, and for surgical assistants and volunteers, must include training in
				counseling, patient advocacy and specific responsibilities associated with the
				services they provide:
(a) Infection control,
				to include universal precautions against blood-borne diseases, general
				sanitation, personal hygiene such as hand washing, use of masks and gloves, and
				instruction to staff if there is a likelihood of transmitting a disease to
				patients or other staff members.
(b) Fire protection, to include evacuating
				patients, proper use of fire extinguishers, and procedures for reporting
				fires;
(c) Confidentiality of
				patient information and records, and protecting patient rights;
(d) Licensing regulations; and,
(e) Incident
				reporting.