(1) Each hospital licensed under this chapter shall, by January 1, 2010, adopt a policy regarding methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. The policy shall, at a minimum, contain the following elements:

     (a) A requirement to test any patient for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus who is a member of a patient population identified as appropriate to test based on the hospital's risk assessment for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus;

     (b) A requirement that a patient in the hospital's adult or pediatric, but not neonatal, intensive care unit be tested for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus within twenty-four hours of admission unless the patient has been previously tested during that hospital stay or has a known history of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus;

     (c) Appropriate procedures to help prevent patients who test positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus from transmitting to other patients. For purposes of this subsection, "appropriate procedures" include, but are not limited to, isolation or cohorting of patients colonized or infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. In a hospital where patients, whose methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus status is either unknown or uncolonized, may be roomed with colonized or infected patients, patients must be notified they may be roomed with patients who have tested positive for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus; and

     (d) A requirement that every patient who has a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection receive oral and written instructions regarding aftercare and precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others.

     (2) A hospital that has identified a hospitalized patient who has a diagnosis of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus shall report the infection to the department using the department's comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system. When making its report, the hospital shall use codes used by the United States centers for medicare and medicaid services, when available.

[2009 c 244 § 1.]