Alabama Administrative Code

(1) The State Health Officer may act to prevent the spread of any notifiable disease or health condition in a manner consistent with current medical and epidemiologic knowledge about the mode of transmission of said disease or health condition. Said actions for control of disease…

No person shall be tested for HIV infection by antibody determination, or by other means, unless said person or their personal physician are informed of the results of said test or said results are made available to said person. A person so notified shall be provided information …

(1) The chief administrator of a hospital, or his or her designee, shall notify pre-hospital agencies and emergency medical service personnel of a patient's contagious condition. (2) Pre-hospital and emergency medical service personnel shall be notified by the hospital administra…

(1) The victim of a sex offense may request the results of any tests on the defendant convicted of such sex offense, for the presence of HIV, the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Such request shall be made in writing to the Department and must inclu…

In circumstances potentially or actually affecting national security, the State Health Officer or his or her designee is authorized to notify appropriate local, county, state, or federal law enforcement authorities, other agencies charged to protect national security, or federal …

The State Health Officer, or his or her designee, may, without the consent of the patient or parent or guardian, release to the appropriate federal or state public health or regulatory authorities or agencies environmental investigation data on dwellings or sites wherein the Depa…

(1) Practitioners attending a pregnant woman shall test them at the initial prenatal visit for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV infections unless the pregnant woman has previously been confirmed to have HIV infection. (2) P…

(1) Registered nurses in the employment of the State Health Department or a county health department may dispense legend drugs for diseases and programs approved by the State Board of Pharmacy. (2) Registered nurses may dispense legend drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, sex…

The operation of the rabies vaccination verification program within a county shall be the responsibility of the appointed rabies officer, who shall serve as an agent of the county board of health. (a) Prior to undertaking a rabies vaccination verification program in a county, the…

(1) Rabies officer means a licensed veterinarian as defined in Code of Ala. 1975, § 3-7A-1, duly appointed by the county board of health and approved by the State Health Officer and State Veterinarian. (2) Deputyrabiesofficer means a licensed veterinarian appointed by the rabies …

(1) The rabies officer shall himself or herself or by and through deputy rabies officers or contractors, provide adequate training for rabies inspectors which shall include at a minimum: the etiology and public health aspects of rabies and procedures for the control of rabies, th…

The rabies officer, deputy rabies officers, rabies inspectors and contractors and employees of same shall conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times. (a) The rabies officer and deputy rabies officers are clothed with limited police power to the extent …

The rabies officer or deputy rabies officer shall issue, and the rabies inspectors may deliver citations for violation of the rabies control law and shall pursue same to resolution. Neither the rabies officer nor his deputies nor rabies inspectors nor employees or contractors of …

When the rabies officer, deputy rabies officer or rabies inspector cannot establish the ownership of a dog or cat and cannot determine whether the animal is wearing a proper rabies tag, a notice of program compliance shall be left at the property. (a) The said notice of program c…

Any rabies officer entering into a contract with another person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to conduct the rabies vaccination verification program in the county shall ensure that the following procedures are followed before the contract is effective. (a) Contr…

The rabies officer, deputy rabies officer or contractor thereof shall establish and follow standard accounting procedures for handling all moneys resulting from the operation of the rabies verification program. Such procedures shall include standard methods for recording the name…

The rabies officer and deputy rabies officer shall establish a procedure for the courteous and expeditious processing of complaints lodged against the program or any inspector or employee. Personnel in public contact positions shall be trained in complaint handling procedures and…

The rabies officer, himself or herself or by and through deputy rabies officers or contractors, shall periodically report to the State Health Officer on the progress of the rabies verification program and shall issue a final report on the program no later than three (3) months fo…

County Health Department Administered Program. The County Boards of Health may directly administer a rabies vaccination verification program in conjunction with the County Rabies Officer, and, in so doing, are not bound by the provisions of Chapter 420-4-2-.01 et seq., provided, …

The purpose of the Chapter is to provide for administration and implementation of the "Infected Health Care Worker Management Act (IHCWMA) to prevent transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), or other disease designa…

When used herein, the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them except where the context prohibits. (a) "Affected institution: means any health care facility at which the infected health care worker routinely and commonly practices. (b) "CDC"…

(a) The Department is authorized to enforce compliance and oversee the implementation of the Public Law and applicable CDC recommendations and any appropriate supplements and revisions to the CDC recommendations which apply to HCWs. (b) The Department shall provide consultation a…

(a) Any IHCW who performs invasive procedures as defined herein shall notify the designee of the SHO by sending a letter marked "Personal and Confidential" to the Director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease, Alabama Department of Public Health, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1400, P…

The internal Department review will confirm the diagnosis and determine if invasive procedures are being performed. (a) If the IHCW is determined NOT to perform invasive procedures, a letter will be sent to him or her stating the following information: (1) No review panel shall b…

(a) The SHO shall cause an ERP to be formed within 60 days if the IHCW is determined by internal Department review to perform invasive procedures. (b) The ERP may include the physician of the IHCW and shall include the following by appointment of the SHO: (1) One Alabama licensed…

(a) The ERP shall review the overall practice and procedures performed by the IHCW by considering: 1. the procedures performed by the IHCW; 2. the adherence to universal precautions by the IHCW; 3. the past history of the HCW of occupational injury while performing the invasive p…

After receiving recommendations from the ERP, the SHO shall make a determination and will provide written notification specifying restrictions, limitations, conditions, or prohibitions on the practice of the IHCW to: (a) the IHCW; (b) the administrator of the affected institution…

(a) An IHCW may appeal the final order of the SHO to the State Committee of Public Health (SCPH) by delivery of written notice of appeal to the SHO not more than 30 days after the date of the SHO's final order. Absent a showing of good cause, the final order of the SHO is not sta…

(a) If no limitations were imposed, the practice of the IHCW will be reviewed annually by internal Department review. If the review determines that practice restrictions may be necessary for an IHCW for whom practice restrictions were initially not necessary, the SHO shall conven…

An IHCW who violates a recommendation of the ERP as set forth herein the related rules is subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate licensing board. Author: Charlotte E. Crysel, Director, Division of Infection Control, Alabama Department of Public Health Notes Ala. Admin.…

(a) Members and staff of the State Board of Health, the State Committee of Public Health, the Board of Medical Examiners, the Medical Licensure Commission, the Board of Nursing, the Board of Dental Examiners, the Board of Podiatry, physicians, hospitals, other health care facilit…

The records, proceedings, deliberations, and documents related to the investigation and review of any IHCW are confidential and shall be used by committees, licensing boards of licensed HCWs, panels, and individuals only in the exercise of their official duties and shall not be p…

(1) "Animal" means any non-human mammal of the Kingdom Animalia. (2) "Cat" means all members of the domesticated feline (Felis catus) family. (3) "Dog" means all members of the domesticated canine (Canis familiaris) family. (4) "Ferret" means all members of the ferret (Mustela pu…

All unvaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets of any age that have exposed humans are declared to be nuisances menacing public health. Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-4-4-.02 New Rule: Filed September 19, 1997; effective October 24, 1997; operative November 4, 1997. Repealed and New Rule…

Suspected exposures to humans by animals capable of transmitting the rabies virus shall be reported to the county health department. (a) Who Shall Report. The following individuals shall report exposures: 1. Health care professionals who treat persons with suspected exposures. 2.…

(1) Initiation of Investigation. When the county health department receives a report from health care professionals, law enforcement personnel, or other persons concerning a possible animal exposure to a human, an investigation shall promptly be conducted. (2) Investigation Repor…

(1) Assistance Animals. Guide, hearing, and service dogs shall be exempt from the quarantine period specified in § 3-7A-1(10), Code of Ala. 1975, if exposures occur in the line of duty and evidence of immunization against rabies is presented. An assistance animal shall be examine…

(1) Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret required to be immunized shall cause the animal to be immunized by the rabies officer, his or her authorized representative, or any duly licensed veterinarian, when the animal reaches three months of age and subsequently in accordance with…

Evidence of rabies immunization shall be provided to the owner of the animal by the issuance of a certificate and a serially numbered tag. (a) The information required by § 3-7A-2(a), Code of Ala. 1975, shall be stated on a printed Certificate of Immunization, dated and signed by…

(1) With the written consent of an animal's owner, a veterinarian with a valid client/patient relationship (VC/PR) may issue a certificate exempting an animal from the rabies vaccination requirements in § 3-7A-2, Code of Ala. 1975, if he or she determines that it would be medical…

Extra-label use of rabies vaccines may be considered under the following conditions: (a) The United States Department of Agriculture regulations and the Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidelines for pharmaceuticals shall be followed relative to the extra-label use o…

The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control published in 2008 by the NASPHV and the Centers for Disease Control is hereby adopted by reference and shall serve as a guide for the Department's animal rabies control activities in situations not specifically addressed in t…

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms and acronyms shall have the following meanings respectively ascribed to them. (a) "Accuracy" means the correctness of data reported about Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) submitted to the Alabama Department of Public Hea…

(1) Healthcare facilities shall begin collecting HAI data using NHSN to report to ADPH no later than January 1, 2011. Healthcare facilities may begin collecting HAI data to report to ADPH using NHSN prior to January 1, 2011. Data reported prior to January 1, 2011 will be consider…

The Advisory Council shall review and serve as consultants to ADPH on all matters pertaining to the collection and reporting of HAI rates including the cost of providing this information. (a) Specifically, the Advisory Council shall assist in activities such as the development of…

(1) ADPH shall establish a group NHSN account for healthcare facilities to join. (2) Healthcare facilities shall report inpatient HAI data using the NHSN internet-based surveillance system and submit this information through the established ADPH group NHSN account. Healthcare fac…

ADPH shall develop policies and procedures, or protocols, or both, approved by the Advisory Council, to ensure that reported HAI data are risk adjusted to allow for comparisons between healthcare facilities and to reduce the possibility that reported data will be misleading. Note…

(1) ADPH, with input from the Advisory Council, shall devise a method to quality check HAI reported data, and shall develop and test a data validation program. Methodologies for data validation shall be approved by the Advisory Council. (2) Each healthcare facility shall utilize …

(1) Reports and studies prepared and released by ADPH, and approved by the Advisory Council, based on healthcare facility HAI data shall be public information, and shall follow the privacy and confidentiality provisions as described in Rule 420-4-5.08. (2) ADPH shall provide comp…

(1) Individual patient information submitted to ADPH shall not be public records and shall not be subject to discovery. (2) ADPH shall not release the HAI data or any information obtained from the data in a form which could be used to identify a patient. (3) ADPH shall develop po…