This letter serves as notification for changes to existing law which take effect January 1, 2013.
AB 1867 extends the implementation date by which GACHs, APHs, SNFs and Special Hospitals must be using intravenous (IV), epidural, and enteral line connectors that cannot be used for a type other than the type intended. Except in emergency or urgent situations, after January 1, 2016, hospitals and SNFs will be prohibited from using IV, epidural and enteral feeding tube connectors that are compatible with more than one type of line. Hospitals and SNFs that fail to comply will be subject to enforcement action.
SB 158 (Statutes of 2008, Chapter 294) added HSC 1279.7, which required in subdivisions (b) and (c), that once new design standards have been published for IV, epidural and enteral applications by the Internal Organization for Standardization, hospitals and SNFs would have 24 months or until January 1, 2011, to adopt them. AB 818 (Statutes of 2009, Chapter 476) extended the deadlines to January 1, 2014 for epidural connectors and to January 1, 2013 for IV and enteral connectors because the design standards were not projected to be completed in time to meet the deadlines required by SB 158. AB 1867 extends the deadline to January 1, 2016 for the same reason.
HSC 1279.7 subdivision (e) continues to require patient safety plans to include measures to prevent adverse events associated with misconnecting IV, enteral feeding and epidural lines until subdivisions (b) and (c) take effect.
The information in this AFL is a brief summary of AB 1867's changes to line connection restrictions. Facilities are responsible for following all applicable laws. CDPH's failure to expressly notify facilities of legislative changes does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and for being aware of all legislative changes. Facilities should refer to the full text of AB 1867 to ensure compliance.
If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact your local District Office.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Pamela Dickfoss for
Debby Rogers, RN, MS, FAEN
Deputy Director
Center for Health Care Quality