Oklahoma Senate Bill SB933

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Health care facilities; requiring certain facilities to adopt and implement certain policy related to surgical smoke. Effective date.

Impact

Should SB933 be enacted, all hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers licensed by the State Department of Health would be required to adopt measures to prevent individual exposure to surgical smoke during surgeries likely to generate such by-products. This regulation aims to enhance health and safety standards within surgical settings by minimizing harmful exposures to medical staff and patients alike.

Summary

Senate Bill 933 (SB933) introduced in Oklahoma focuses on health care facilities and mandates the creation and implementation of a policy regarding surgical smoke. The bill defines surgical smoke as the gaseous by-product generated during surgical procedures, which includes contaminants produced by energy-generating devices. It also defines what constitutes a surgical smoke evacuation system, outlining its purpose to capture and neutralize surgical smoke before it can affect individuals in the surgical room.

Contention

While the legislation aims to improve safety standards in healthcare settings, potential points of contention could arise regarding the operational impacts on healthcare facilities. Hospitals may voice concerns over the financial or logistical burdens stemming from the requirement to install and maintain surgical smoke evacuation systems. The debate could involve discussions about the feasibility of compliance, the necessity of the policy, and its implications for surgical practice.

Effective_date

The new regulations stipulated by SB933 are set to take effect on November 1, 2025, giving healthcare facilities time to prepare for the implementation of these safety measures.