Requires any hospital that provides birthing services to provide written, educational material containing information about premature, newborn infants.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4715
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JOHN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to patient discharge
information concerning certain premature newborn infants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 2803-s to read as follows:
3 § 2803-s. Patient discharge information. 1. Any hospital that provides
4 birthing services shall provide written, educational material containing
5 information about the possible complications, proper care and support
6 associated with newborn infants who are born premature at less than
7 thirty-seven weeks gestational age. The written information shall
8 include but not be limited to, the following:
9 (a) The unique health issues affecting infants born premature, such
10 as: increased risk of developmental problems; nutritional challenges;
11 infection; chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia); vision and
12 hearing impairment; breathing problems; feeding; maintaining body
13 temperature; jaundice; hyperactivity; infant mortality and long-term
14 complications associated with fine motor skills, reading, writing, math-
15 ematics and speaking;
16 (b) The proper care needs of premature infants, developmental screen-
17 ings and monitoring and healthcare services available to premature
18 infants;
19 (c) infectious disease awareness and methods to prevent or minimize
20 infections common to premature infants; and
21 (d) Community resources to assist parents and family members with the
22 care and support of premature infants.
23 2. Such materials shall be written in clear language to educate
24 parents of premature infants across a variety of socioeconomic statuses
25 and shall be updated at least every two years.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
27 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07676-01-9
