New Jersey § 26:2h-12

§ 26:2h-12.

a. A health care entity shall notify the division in writing if a health care professional

who is employed by, under contract to render professional services to, or has privileges

granted by, that health care entity, or who provides such services pursuant to an

agreement with a health care services firm or staffing registry: (1) for reasons relating to the health care professional's impairment, incompetency , or professional misconduct, which incompetency or professional misconduct relates

adversely to patient care or safety: (a) has full or partial privileges summarily

or temporarily revoked or suspended, or permanently reduced, suspended , or revoked; (b) has been removed from the list of eligible employees of a health

services firm or staffing registry; (c) has been discharged from the staff; or (d)

has had a contract to render professional services terminated or rescinded; (2) has conditions or limitations placed on the exercise of clinical privileges or

practice within the health care entity for reasons relating to the health care professional's

impairment, incompetency , or professional misconduct or, which incompetency or professional misconduct relates

adversely to patient care or safety, including, but not limited to, second opinion

requirements, non-routine concurrent or retrospective review of admissions or care,

non-routine supervision by one or more members of the staff, or the completion of

remedial education or training; (3) voluntarily resigns from the staff if: (a) the health care entity is reviewing

the health care professional's patient care or reviewing whether, based upon its reasonable

belief, the health care professional's conduct demonstrates an impairment or incompetence

or is unprofessional, which incompetence or unprofessional conduct relates adversely

to patient care or safety; or (b) the health care entity, through any member of the

medical or administrative staff, has expressed an intention to do such a review; (4) voluntarily relinquishes any partial privilege or authorization to perform a specific

procedure if: (a) the health care entity is reviewing the health care professional's

patient care or reviewing whether, based upon its reasonable belief, the health care

professional's conduct demonstrates an impairment or incompetence or is unprofessional,

which incompetence or unprofessional conduct relates adversely to patient care or

safety; or (b) the health care entity, through any member of the medical or administrative

staff, has expressed an intention to do such a review; (5) while under, or subsequent to, a review by the health care entity of the health

care professional's patient care or professional conduct is granted a leave of absence

for reasons relating to a physical, mental , or emotional condition or drug or alcohol use which impairs the health care professional's

ability to practice with reasonable skill and safety, except that no report is required

for pregnancy-related leaves of absence or if the health care professional has sought

assistance from a professional assistance or intervention program approved or designated

by the division or a board to provide confidential oversight of the health care professional

and is following the treatment regimen or monitoring as that program requires; or (6) is a party to a medical malpractice liability suit, to which the health care entity

is also a party, and in which there is a settlement, judgment , or arbitration award. As used in this subsection, incompetence, professional misconduct , and unprofessional conduct shall not include personal conduct, such as tardiness,

insubordination , or other similar behavior, which does not relate to patient care or safety. b. A health care entity shall notify the division in writing if it is in possession

of information that indicates that a health care professional has failed to comply

with a request to seek assistance from a professional assistance or intervention program

approved or designated by the division or a board to provide confidential oversight

of the health care professional, or has failed to follow the treatment regimen or

monitoring program required by that program to assure that the health care professional's

physical, mental , or emotional condition or drug or alcohol use does not impair the health care professional's

ability to practice with reasonable skill and safety. c. A health care entity shall notify the division in writing if any health care professional

who has been the subject of a report pursuant to this section, has had conditions

or limitations on the exercise of clinical privileges or practice within the health

care entity altered, or privileges restored, or has resumed exercising clinical privileges

that had been voluntarily relinquished. d. In the case of a health care professional who is providing services at a health

care entity pursuant to an agreement with a health care services firm or staffing

agency and is the subject of a notice pursuant to this section, the health care entity

shall, when it submits a notice to the division concerning that health care professional,

provide a copy of the notice to the health care services firm or staffing agency. e. The form of notification shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Health , in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services in the case of psychiatric

facilities and developmental centers, and shall contain such information as may be

required by the division and shall be made within seven days of the date of the action,

settlement, judgment , or award. f. A health care entity which fails to provide such notice to the division or fails

to cooperate with a request for information by the division, the board or the Medical

Practitioner Review Panel established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1989, c. 300 ( C.45:9-19.8 ) shall be subject to such penalties as the Department of Health may determine pursuant to sections 13 and 14 of P.L.1971, c. 136 ( C.26:2H-13 and 26:2H-14 ). g. A health care entity, or any employee thereof, which provides information to the

division, the board, the Medical Practitioner Review Panel, a health care services

firm or staffing agency, or the Department of Health , in good faith and without malice, regarding a health care professional pursuant

to the provisions of this section or section 3 of P.L.1989, c. 300 ( C.26:2H-12.2a ), is not liable for civil damages in any cause of action arising out of the provision

or reporting of the information. h. A health care entity shall provide the health care professional who is the subject

of a notice pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (4) , and (5) of subsection a. of this section and subsection c. of this section with a

copy of the notice provided to the division, when the health care entity submits the

notice to the division. i. For the purposes of this section, section 3 of P.L.1989, c. 300 ( C.26:2H-12.2a ) and section 15 of P.L.2005, c. 83 ( C.26:2H-12.2c ): “ Board ” means a professional and occupational licensing board within the Division of Consumer

Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety which licenses or otherwise authorizes

a health care professional to practice a health care profession. “ Division ” means the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. “ Health care entity ” means a health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c. 136 ( C.26:2H-1 et seq. ), a health maintenance organization authorized to operate pursuant to P.L.1973, c.

337 ( C.26:2J-1 et seq. ), a carrier which offers a managed care plan regulated pursuant to P.L.1997, c. 192 ( C.26:2S-1 et seq. ), a State or county psychiatric hospital, a State developmental center, a staffing

registry, and a home care services agency as defined in section 1 of P.L.1947, c.

262 ( C.45:11-23 ). “ Health care professional ” means a person licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52

of the Revised Statutes to practice a health care profession that is regulated by

the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs or by one of the following boards:

the State Board of Medical Examiners, the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the New Jersey

State Board of Dentistry, the New Jersey State Board of Optometrists, the New Jersey

State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Acupuncture

Examining Board, the State Board of Physical Therapy, the State Board of Respiratory

Care, the Orthotics and Prosthetics Board of Examiners, the State Board of Psychological

Examiners, the State Board of Social Work Examiners, the State Board of Veterinary

Medical Examiners, the State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic

Technicians, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee, the State

Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, the Occupational Therapy Advisory

Council and the Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee. “ Health care professional ” also includes a nurse aide and a personal care assistant certified by the Department

of Health .