(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. to help
recognize and prevent cardiac illnesses in children was approved by an Assembly
panel on Thursday.
“We’ve seen far too many
tragic cardiac incidents among students in recent years,” said Diegnan
(D-Middlesex). “In most of these cases, the student was completely unaware of
any pre-existing cardiac condition. This bill will help increase detection and
prevent future tragedies.”
Diegnan
has consistently advocated for better policies to help prevent sudden tragic
cardiac incidents among students, including sponsoring legislation to
develop an information campaign about a specific type of heart disease –
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – as well as legislation requiring automatic external defibrillators in
schools.
The
bill (A-1473) approved today would require that an annual medical examination of
any person 19 years of age and under include questions contained in the
“Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation” form developed to screen students
seeking to participate in school-sponsored athletics.
The
bill also requires the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with various
experts, to develop a cardiac screening professional development module, which
advanced practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants performing
medical examinations would be required to periodically complete. These
individuals would be required to attest to their completion of the module upon
renewal of certification, registration, or licensure, as
applicable.
The
module shall include, but need not be limited to, the
following:
1)
completing and reviewing a detailed
medical history with an emphasis on cardiovascular family history and personal
reports of symptoms;
2)
identifying symptoms of sudden
cardiac arrest that may require follow-up assessment with a
cardiologist;
3)
recognizing normal structural
changes of the heart;
4)
recognizing prodromal symptoms that
precede sudden cardiac arrest;
5)
performing the cardiovascular
physical examination; and
6)
reviewing the major etiologies of
sudden unexplained cardiac death with an emphasis on structural abnormalities
and acquired conditions.
Additionally,
the bill directs the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the
Department of Law and Public Safety, in consultation with the Commissioner of
Health, to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the
bill.
The
bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month following its
enactment, but authorizes the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs and
the Commissioner of Health to take prior administrative action as necessary for
its implementation.
The
bill was approved by the Assembly Women and Children Committee and now awaits
consideration by the full Assembly.
