(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Central service technician” means a person who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices in a health care facility, whether such person is employed by the health care facility or provides services pursuant to a contract with the health care facility;

(2) “Health care facility” means an outpatient surgical facility, as defined in section 19a-493b, or a hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, but does not include a chronic disease hospital, as defined in section 19a-550;

(3) “Health care provider” means a person or organization that provides health care services and is licensed in accordance with this title; and

(4) “Central service department” means a department within a health care facility that processes, issues and controls medical supplies, devices and equipment, both sterile and nonsterile, for patient care areas of a health care facility.

(b) Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to this section, no person shall practice as a central service technician unless such person (1) (A) has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians and holds and maintains one of the following credentials: (i) A certified registered central service technician credential administered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management, or (ii) a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential administered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc., or (B) was employed or otherwise contracted for services as a central service technician in a health care facility before January 1, 2016, or (2) obtains a certified registered central service technician credential administered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management or a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential administered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc., not later than two years after such person's date of hire or contracting for services with the health care facility.

(c) A central service technician shall complete a minimum of ten hours of continuing education annually. The continuing education shall be in areas related to the functions of a central service technician.

(d) A health care facility shall, upon the written request of a central service technician, verify, in writing, the central service technician's dates of employment or the contract period during which the central service technician provided services to the health care facility.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the following persons from performing the tasks or functions of a central service technician: (1) A health care provider; (2) a student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the direct supervision of a health care provider as part of the student's or intern's training or internship; or (3) a person who does not work in a central service department in a health care facility, but who has been specially trained and determined competent, based on standards set by a health care facility's infection prevention or control committee, acting in consultation with a central service technician certified in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, to decontaminate or sterilize reusable medical equipment, instruments or devices, in a manner that meets applicable manufacturer's instructions and standards.

(f) A health care facility shall retain a list of persons determined competent under subsection (e) of this section. Such list shall include job titles for such persons. A person determined competent pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall annually complete a minimum of ten hours of continuing education in areas related to infection control and the decontamination and sterilization of reusable medical equipment, instruments and devices.

(g) Any health care facility that employs or contracts with a central service technician shall submit to the Department of Public Health, upon request, including, but not limited to, during an inspection performed pursuant to section 19a-496, documentation demonstrating that such central service technician is in compliance with the requirements set forth in this section.

(P.A. 15-11, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 15-11 effective January 1, 2016.