Sec. 241.009. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BADGE REQUIRED. (a) In this section, "health care provider" means a person who provides health care services at a hospital as a physician, as an employee of the hospital, under a contract with the hospital, or in the course of a training or educational program at the hospital.

(b) A hospital licensed under this chapter shall adopt a policy requiring a health care provider providing direct patient care at the hospital to wear a photo identification badge during all patient encounters, unless precluded by adopted isolation or sterilization protocols. The badge must be of sufficient size and worn in a manner to be visible and must clearly state:

(1) at minimum the provider's first or last name;

(2) the department of the hospital with which the provider is associated;

(3) the type of license held by the provider, if the provider holds a license under Title 3, Occupations Code; and

(4) if applicable, the provider's status as a student, intern, trainee, or resident.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), the identification badge of a health care provider licensed under Title 3, Occupations Code, must clearly state:

(1) "physician," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle B of that title;

(2) "chiropractor," "podiatrist," "midwife," "physician assistant," "acupuncturist," or "surgical assistant," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle C of that title;

(3) "dentist" or "dental hygienist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle D of that title;

(4) "licensed vocational nurse," "registered nurse," "nurse practitioner," "nurse midwife," "nurse anesthetist," or "clinical nurse specialist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle E of that title;

(5) "optometrist," or "therapeutic optometrist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle F of that title;

(6) "speech-language pathologist" or "audiologist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle G of that title;

(7) "physical therapist," "occupational therapist," or "massage therapist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license under Subtitle H of that title;

(8) "medical radiologic technologist," "medical physicist," "perfusionist," "respiratory care practitioner," "orthotist," or "prosthetist," as applicable, if the provider holds a license or certificate, as appropriate, under Subtitle K of that title; and

(9) "dietitian," if the provider holds a license under Subtitle M of that title.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(3), a hospital licensed under this chapter is not required to list the type of license held by a provider on a health care provider's photo identification badge until September 1, 2019. This subsection expires September 1, 2020.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 108 (S.B. 945), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0569, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 60 (S.B. 1753), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.