Sec. 81.012.  DESIGNATED INFECTION CONTROL OFFICER.  (a)  An entity that employs or uses the services of an emergency response employee or volunteer shall nominate a designated infection control officer and an alternate designated infection control officer to:
(1)  receive notification of a potential exposure to a reportable disease from a health care facility;
(2)  notify the appropriate health care providers of a potential exposure to a reportable disease;
(3)  act as a liaison between the entity's emergency response employees or volunteers who may have been exposed to a reportable disease during the course and scope of employment or service as a volunteer and the destination hospital of the patient who was the source of the potential exposure;
(4)  investigate and evaluate an exposure incident, using current evidence-based information on the possible risks of communicable disease presented by the exposure incident; and
(5)  monitor all follow-up treatment provided to the affected emergency response employee or volunteer, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.
(b)  The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe the qualifications required for a person to be eligible to be designated as an infection control officer under this section.  The qualifications must include a requirement that the person be trained as a health care provider or have training in the control of infectious and communicable diseases.
(c)  The entity that employs or uses the services of an emergency response employee or volunteer is responsible for notifying the local health authorities or local health care facilities, according to any local rules or procedures, that the entity has a designated infection control officer or alternate designated infection control officer.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1278 (S.B. 1574), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015.