SPRINGFIELD — To further ensure patients seeking care have a chance to designate an emergency contact, State Senator Mattie Hunter is spearheading a measure to require hospitals to provide an opportunity to gather contact information.

“When someone goes to a hospital, their first worry is not when they should tell the staff who to contact in case of emergency — it’s to receive care and alleviate their symptoms,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “It is imperative that we have procedures in place to ensure the hospital can gather the information they need without placing the burden on the patient to remember to provide it.”

House Bill 1332 would require hospitals to present a patient with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact, as well as to authorize the hospital to share protected health information with this contact.

It also requires hospitals to disclose the death of a patient to the emergency contact as soon as possible.

“By requiring these opportunities, we are ensuring both the hospital and patient do not have to jump through administrative barriers when needing to contact someone about their condition,” said Hunter.

House Bill 1332 passed the Senate Wednesday.

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