S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-16.602

Current through Register Vol. 48, 12, December 27, 2024

Section 61-16.602 - New Employees

A. To ensure that every person accepted for employment is medically capable of performing the required job duties, a new employee shall be required to satisfactorily pass a health assessment conducted prior to direct patient contact by one of the following:

1. Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy;

2. Physician Assistant;

3. Nurse Practitioner; or

4. Registered nurse, pursuant to standing orders approved by a physician as required by hospital policy by the physician. The standing orders must be reviewed annually, with a copy maintained at the facility.

B. The health assessment must ensure that all potential hospital employees are evaluated for conditions related to infectious diseases that may have an impact on patient care, the employee, or other healthcare workers. Based upon recommendations of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for immunization of healthcare personnel, as listed in the CDC Guideline for infection control in healthcare personnel (1998) and as amended, this evaluation must include:

1. Medical history, including immunization status and assessment for conditions that may predispose the person to acquiring or transmitting communicable diseases;

2. Tuberculosis screening, which is performed in a manner prescribed in the CDC and the Department's most current tuberculosis guidelines; and

3. Serologic screening for vaccine-preventable diseases, as deemed appropriate by the hospital.

C. The hospital must provide evidence of education of employees about influenza vaccination and must offer the influenza vaccine to these persons.

D. Employee health programs must provide evidence of ongoing review and monitoring of both CDC and the Department recommendations and updates and methods for revising the programs as needed.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-16.602

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014; State Register Volume 48, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/28/2024.