Idaho Code 56-1708 – Office of Patient Ombudsman
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Terms Used In Idaho Code 56-1708
- Crisis standards of care: means a substantial change in the usual health care operations and the level of care it is possible to deliver, justified by specific circumstances and formally declared by a state government in recognition that crisis operations will be in effect for a sustained period. See Idaho Code 56-1703
- Declaration: means the issuance by the director of the department of health and welfare of a declaration or documentation that crisis standards of care have been activated in a particular region or statewide. See Idaho Code 56-1703
- Director: means the director of the Idaho department of health and welfare. See Idaho Code 56-1703
- Health care services: means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease. See Idaho Code 56-1703
- Patient: means a person receiving health care services at a health care facility. See Idaho Code 56-1703
- President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
If crisis standards of care are declared by the director, there will be established within the governor’s office an office of patient ombudsman to receive calls, emails, and written complaints from Idaho patients, residents, or families seeking help in obtaining health care services. The ombudsman shall advocate for the rights and needs of patients and residents negatively impacted by crisis standards of care. The office shall operate for the duration of the crisis standards of care and shall cease to operate no later than three (3) weeks after the declaration of crisis standards of care is terminated. The ombudsman will be provided with sufficient resources for staffing and advertising. When an office of patient ombudsman has been established, the governor’s office shall provide a written report to the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate health and welfare committee, and the house of representatives health and welfare committee that contains the number of contacts received, cases engaged, and resolutions obtained by the office of patient ombudsman.