Surgical smoke plume evacuation

Surgical smoke plume evacuation. (a) In this Section: "Surgical smoke plume" means the by-product of the use of energy-based devices on tissue during surgery and containing hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, bioaerosols, smoke, gases, tissue and cellular fragments and particulates, and viruses. "Surgical smoke plume evacuation system" means a dedicated device that is designed to capture, transport, and filter surgical smoke plume at the site of origin and before it can diffuse and pose a risk to the occupants of the operating or treatment room. (b) To protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke plume, a hospital licensed under this Act shall adopt policies to ensure the elimination of surgical smoke plume by use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system for each procedure that generates surgical smoke plume from the use of energy-based devices, including, but not limited to, electrosurgery and lasers. (c) A hospital licensed under this Act shall report to the Department within 90 days after January 1, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-533) that policies under subsection (b) of this Section have been adopted. (Source: P.A. 102-533, eff. 1-1-22; 102-750, eff. 5-6-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)