A new provision in the Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Act will take effect on June 1, 2015 requiring healthcare facility personnel, physicians in private practice and their employees to wear name badges while treating patients.  Specifically, the rule applies to the following categories of practitioners and personnel:

  • Employees and physicians working at health care facilities licensed by the Department who provide direct care to patients or consumers;
  • Employees and physicians working at the private practice of physicians who provide direct care to patients or consumers; and
  • Employees and physicians working at an employment agency who provide direct care to patients and consumers.

The badges must include:

  • A recent photograph of the employee
  • The employee’s name
  • The employee’s title
  • The name of the employee’s health care facility or employment agency

The title of the employee shall be as large as possible in block type and shall occupy a 1/2-inch tall strip as close as practicable to the bottom edge of the badge.

  • Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathy must use the title ”Physician”.
  • Registered Nurses must use the title ”Registered Nurse” and Licensed Practical Nurses must use ”Licensed Practical Nurse”.

For more information, see the May 16, 2015 Pennsylvania Bulletin.