The proposed bill aims to enhance transparency in the communication of credentials between health care professionals and patients. It emphasizes the importance of clear identification of health care providers' qualifications to prevent misunderstandings that could undermine patient trust and care quality. To achieve this, the bill mandates that health care license holders must wear visible identification badges displaying their names and credentials during patient interactions. Additionally, any advertisement for health care services must include the type of credential held by the provider. The bill also introduces new sections to various chapters of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to enforce these requirements.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws to include provisions that ensure compliance with the new identification requirements across different health care settings, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult family homes, and ambulatory surgical facilities. It specifies that these facilities must issue updated identification badges under certain conditions, such as when new employees are hired or when existing employees change their credentials. The bill also establishes that any violation of these new requirements will be considered unprofessional conduct, thereby reinforcing the accountability of health care professionals in maintaining transparency with their patients.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 48.43.005, 18.57.031, 18.71.021