26:13-6 Emergency Health Care Provider Registry.

6. The commissioner may establish a registry of health care workers, public health workers and support services personnel who voluntarily consent to provide health care, public health services and support logistics during a public health emergency. This registry shall be known as the Emergency Health Care Provider Registry.

The commissioner may require training related to the provision of health care, public health services and support services in an emergency or crisis as a condition of registration.

a. The commissioner may issue identification cards to health care workers, public health workers and support services personnel included in the registry established under this section that:

(1) Identify the health care worker, public health worker or support services personnel;

(2) Indicate that the individual is registered as a New Jersey emergency health care worker, public health worker or support services personnel;

(3) Identify the professional license or certification held by the individual; and

(4) Identify the individual's usual area of practice if that information is available and the commissioner determines that it is appropriate to provide that information.

b. The commissioner shall establish a form for identification cards issued under this section.

c. The commissioner may identify all or part of a health care facility or other location as an emergency health care center. Upon the declaration of a public health emergency, an emergency health care center may be used for:

(1) Evaluation and referral of individuals affected by the emergency or crisis;

(2) Provision of health care services, including vaccination, mass prophylaxis, isolation and quarantine; and

(3) Preparation of patients for transportation.

The commissioner may direct designated LINCS agencies, or their successors, and local public health authorities to identify emergency health care centers under this subsection.

d. In the event the Governor declares a public health emergency, the commissioner may direct health care workers, public health workers and support services personnel registered under this section who are willing to provide health care services on a voluntary basis to proceed to any place in this State where health care services or public health services are required by reason of the public health emergency.

e. An emergency health care worker, public health worker and support services personnel registered under this section may volunteer to perform health care or public health services at any emergency health care center.

f. In the event the Governor declares a public health emergency, the commissioner may waive health care facility medical staff privileging requirements for individuals registered as emergency health care workers, and hospitals shall permit registered emergency health care workers to exercise privileges at the hospital for the duration of the public health emergency.

g. An emergency health care worker, public health worker and support services personnel registered under this section who provides health care services on a voluntary basis shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of the person's acts or omissions in providing medical care or treatment related to the public health emergency in good faith and in accordance with the provisions of this act.

L.2005,c.222,s.6.