§ 2805-Z — Hospital domestic violence policies and procedures

§ 2805-z. Hospital domestic violence policies and procedures. 1. Every\ngeneral hospital shall: (a) develop, maintain and disseminate written\npolicies and procedures for the identification, assessment, treatment\nand referral of confirmed or suspected cases of domestic violence; (b)\nestablish, and implement on an ongoing basis, a training program for all\nnursing, medical, social work and other clinical personnel, and security\npersonnel working in hospital service units regarding the policies and\nprocedures established pursuant to this section; and (c) designate a\nstaff member to contact the domestic violence or victim assistance\norganization identified by the commissioner under subdivision three of\nthis section providing victim assistance to the geographic area served\nby such hospital to establish the coordination of services to domestic\nviolence victims.\n 2. Upon admittance or commencement of treatment of a confirmed or\nsuspected domestic violence victim, such hospital shall advise the\nvictim of the availability of the services of a domestic violence or\nvictim assistance organization. If after receiving such advice the\ndomestic violence victim wishes the presence of a domestic violence or\nvictim assistance advocate, such hospital shall contact the appropriate\norganization and request that one be provided.\n 3. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may\nbe necessary and proper to carry out effectively the provisions of this\nsection. Prior to promulgating such rules and regulations, the\ncommissioner shall consult with the office for the prevention of\ndomestic violence and other such persons as the commissioner deems\nnecessary to develop a model policy for hospitals to utilize in\ncomplying with this section and to identify the domestic violence or\nvictim assistance organizations operating in each hospital's geographic\narea, a list of which the commissioner shall provide to hospitals with\nthe model policy.\n