For Immediate Release: Jan. 10, 2007

Media Advisory – Rep. Tom Campbell introduces five bills dealing with healthcare providers

Olympia - Today, Rep. Tom Campbell (R-2nd District) introduced a series of bills to crack down on negligent or criminal health care providers in Washington State.  Many such health care providers are licensed by the state to practice, yet have shown a flagrant disregard for the safety and well-being of the patients who have entrusted them with their care.

He also introduced House Bill 1106 to require hospitals to report – and the Dept. of Health to publish – instances of Hospital Acquired infections. Each year, two-million patients in the US are exposed to infections because of their hospital stay. Of those infected, 90,000 die each year from the exposure. The issue has been concern to Rep. Campbell ever since his father died because of a hospital-acquired infection. 

HB 1100 – Requiring background checks for health care providers – the measure requires the Dept. of Health to set requirements for all out-of-state healthcare providers seeking to be licensed in Washington to undergo a State Patrol background check, prior to issuance of any license. The background check may be fingerprint-based at the discretion of the department.

HB 1101 – Providing for uniform sanctions of health care professionals – The Dept. of Health shall adopt an appropriate range of sanctions that are applicable to a finding after a hearing that a healthcare license holder has committed unprofessional conduct.

HB 1103 – Concerning health professionals – The disciplining authority is required to adopt, amend and rescind such rules as are deemed necessary to investigate all complaints of reports of unprofessional conduct. This bill shifts the authority to issue emergency suspensions and make decisions to investigate the issue of the case from the Boards and Commissions to the Secretary of the Dept. of Health. It would allow an immediate suspension of the license on an emergency basis, pending a hearing on unprofessional conduct. The bill also gives the Secretary authority to employ, investigative, administrative and clerical staff to enforce the law.

HB 1104 – Authorizes the revocation of a health care provider’s license for three separate courses of unprofessional conduct over a 10-year period – a ‘three strikes – you’re out’ perspective to protect patients from unprofessional conduct by a health care provider. It establishes a mandatory revocation of license for providers who are found to have engaged in three acts of particularly harmful unprofessional conduct during a 10 year period.

“There are far too many instances where healthcare providers are granted a license to practice by the state without documentation of their history as a professional,” Campbell said.

Last year, a King County gynecologist was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of sexual crimes against four patients. “This was a licensed physician who exploited vulnerable people who trusted him as a healthcare provider,” Campbell said.

HB 1106 – Hospital Acquired Infections – Each year, health care-associated infections affect two million Americans, resulting in unnecessary death of 90,000 patients and costs the health care system $4.5 billion. This important consumer bill will require hospitals to report hospital-acquired infections in all healthcare facilities, and it will also require the Dept. of Health to publish comparisons of hospital infection rates. Last year, Campbell worked a similar bill through the House, but the Senate failed to pass this important measure.

Comments by Rep. Tom Campbell:

“The need is great to resolve these issues to instill trust among patients that they are getting the best care possible. Up to now, the system has been run by providers. It is time for state laws to dictate that patients need to be in control of their care and their providers need to be responsible to them, not the other way around.”

“We need to put patients first. We’re not talking apples and tomatoes…we’re talking about people’s lives. Patients need assurance they are being treated by competent health care providers.”

“It’s not enough to say a provider has a state license, so therefore you can be confident that the provider will do you no harm. You have to be assured that because the professional is licensed, you are protected from harm.”

Contact: Rep. Tom Campbell @ (360) 786-7912 or campbell.tom@leg.wa.gov.

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