§ 26:2H-5b — Routine monitoring of pain as fifth vital sign required.

1. a. The Commissioner of Health shall prescribe, by regulation, requirements to be adopted by health care facilities licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) for the routine monitoring of pain as a fifth vital sign in patients, in addition to blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature. For the purpose of this subsection, the commissioner shall require health care facilities to: (1) routinely inquire whether a patient is in pain; (2) maintain policies and procedures as prescribed by the commissioner for asking patients to rate their degree of pain for a specified period of time and to record their responses; and (3) routinely record levels of pain intensity on patient charts. b. The requirements to be adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall take effect no later than the 180th day after the effective date of this act. L.2000, c.62, s.1; amended 2012, c.17, s.154.