Senator Robert W. Singer (R-30)

Singer Introduces Legislation in Response to Recent Hepatitis B Outbreak in Toms River

Senator Robert Singer (R-30) is drafting legislation that would require a physician who performs intravenous therapy to register with the Department of Health and Senior Services. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that medical practices that provide intravenous oncology and hematology therapies maintain uniform infection prevention and control procedures to ensure the health and safety of patients treated in a physician’s office. The bill is in response to the discovery of five people who had been infected with hepatitis B after receiving care at a local doctor’s office.

“Patients who set foot in any doctor’s office in New Jersey should be able to assume that the facility is clean and the staff is well trained, ” stated Singer. “This bill helps ensure that medical facilities are operating under safe conditions with the health and well being of the patient being the utmost priority.”

In Toms River last month there was a hepatitis B outbreak where thousands of patients were encouraged to get tested because they may have been exposed to the disease. There were 5 confirmed cases and the doctor whose care they were under had his license stripped indefinitely.

“Most doctors are very stringent when it comes to adhering to regulatory measures and safety precautions in their medical offices, ” Singer concluded. “Just in case they aren’t, this bill serves as another layer of public protection.



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