Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Impact
If enacted, S915 would amend current New Jersey laws related to hospital admissions and patient rights, specifically to include provisions for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill mandates that hospitals provide an opportunity for patients or their guardians to designate a caregiver, and it stipulates that this person can accompany the patient throughout the hospital stay, except in certain medical scenarios involving surgical procedures. This change aims to support inclusivity and acknowledge the specific needs of patients with developmental disabilities, which are often overlooked in standard hospital policies.
Summary
Senate Bill S915 seeks to enhance the rights of hospital patients with developmental disabilities by ensuring that they can be accompanied by a designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or another caregiver during their hospital stay. This legislation recognizes the importance of having familiar support for individuals with developmental disabilities, which can ease the stress of hospitalization and contribute to better health outcomes. The bill outlines specific provisions regarding the designation of caregivers who can accompany patients, emphasizing the need for hospitals to facilitate this process upon admission.
Contention
While supporters of the bill advocate for the empowerment of patients with developmental disabilities and their families, there may be concerns regarding the practical implementation of such policies in hospitals. Questions could arise about how hospitals manage caregiver designations, especially in emergency situations, and whether there are adequate resources and training for staff to accommodate these new requirements. Furthermore, the bill does not impose an obligation on designated caregivers to provide personal care, which may lead to uncertainty regarding the roles and responsibilities of caregivers during a patient's hospital stay.
Same As
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
NJ S956
Carry Over
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
NJ A4608
Carry Over
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Requires hospitals to provide certain resources to certain patients and to ask patients if patients have completed advance directive or practitioner orders for life-sustaining treatment form.
Requires hospitals to provide certain resources to certain patients and to ask patients if patients have completed advance directive or practitioner orders for life-sustaining treatment form.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.
Establishes the right of non-speaking developmentally and otherwise disabled individuals to advocate for themselves in educational, medical, legal, and other decisions by using alternative forms of communication, such as spelling boards, typing-based communication, sign language, and speech-generating devices.