The pandemic has put a huge stress on the world over the last couple years, especially for those that work in the healthcare industry. Between death, burnout, loss of wages and much more, keeping up with the ever changing rules, regulations, and laws during this time can be very hard. Here are the current laws and regulations for hospital and health care providers in North Carolina to help stay on top of things.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID Guidance
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), there are a variety of things health care professionals should do in order to make sure they are compliant with the Covid-19 laws, rules, and regulations.
- Follow directions related to elective and non-urgent and procedures and surgeries.
- This document covers recommendations and guidance for protections for patients and healthcare workers in responsibly returning to elective surgeries and procedures.
- Review policies and procedures for infection prevention and mitigation and make sure all visitors and employees follow the appropriate steps. This can be found here.
- Limit visitors to the facility to only those essential for the patient’s physical or emotional well-being and care, for example, care partners. It is important providers consider patient rights under the American with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act when considering caregiver visitation.
- Consider using telemedicine, nurse triage lines and other options to prevent people with mild illnesses from coming to clinics and emergency rooms.
- According to the CDC, “Telehealth can facilitate access to care, reduce risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]), conserve scarce medical supplies, and reduce strain on health care capacity and facilities while supporting continuity of care.”
- Ask about travel history for patients presenting with respiratory illnesses and continue working closely with your local health department, NCDHHS and the CDC and follow their guidance.
- Join in weekly calls with NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health.
What should I do if I think I'm going to be facing disciplinary action from the North Carolina Nursing Board due to not following COVID guidelines and procedures?
You should contact an experienced North Carolina Nursing License Defense Lawyer to consult about your situation as soon as possible. Speaking with an experienced lawyer who has represented clients in front of the North Carolina Nursing Board will allow you to ask questions that have weighed on you for days or weeks. In any situation, the fear of the unknown is most often the worst part. A consultation will allow you to get peace of mind about your case and better understand how to face the allegations.
Nothing in this blog post is legal advice or establishes the attorney-client relationship. This is for informational purposes only. If you’d like to learn more about professional licensing issues in North Carolina check out our site at www.northstatelawfirm.com or our YouTube site here. 919-521-8810 is the direct line to North State Law.