{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-116.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-116.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-116.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-116.3.html"}],"law_id":81701,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81701,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.3","catch_line":"Reporting of communicable diseases; definitions","history":"1988, cc. 760, 789; 1989, c. 443; 1993, c. 655; 2004, cc. 773, 1021; 2008, c. 118; 2009, cc. 478, 552; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2020, c. 502.","full_text":"A\n\nFor the purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Communicable disease of public health threat” means an illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner in accordance with regulations of the Board of Health, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to be readily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual or person to another or to uninfected persons through airborne or nonairborne means and has been found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment; this definition shall not, however, be construed to include human immunodeficiency viruses or tuberculosis, unless used as a bioterrorism weapon. “Individual” shall include any companion animal.\n\t\t\t“Communicable diseases” means any airborne infection or disease, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis, measles, certain meningococcal infections, mumps, chicken pox and Hemophilus Influenzae Type b, and those transmitted by contact with blood or other human body fluids, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B and Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis.B\n\nEvery licensed health care facility that transfers or receives patients via emergency medical services vehicles shall notify the emergency medical services agencies providing such patient transport of the name and telephone number of the individual who is the infection control practitioner with the responsibility of investigating exposure to infectious diseases in the facility.\n\t\t\tEvery emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner and that is established in the Commonwealth shall notify all facilities to which it transports patients or from which it transfers patients of the names and telephone numbers of the members, not to exceed three persons, who have been appointed to serve as the exposure control officers. Every emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner shall implement universal precautions and shall ensure that these precautions are appropriately followed and enforced.C\n\nUpon requesting any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner to transfer a patient who is known to be positive for or who suffers from any communicable disease, the transferring facility shall inform the attendant-in-charge of the transferring crew of the general condition of the patient and the types of precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The identity of the patient shall be confidential.D\n\nIf any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider has an exposure of blood or body fluid to mucous membrane or non-intact skin or a contaminated needlestick injury, his exposure control officer shall be notified, a report completed, and the infection control practitioner at the receiving facility notified.E\n\nIf, during the course of medical care and treatment, any physician determines that a patient who was transported to a receiving facility by any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner (i) is positive for or has been diagnosed as suffering from an airborne infectious disease or (ii) is subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, then the infection control practitioner in the facility shall immediately notify the exposure control officer who represents the transporting emergency medical services agency of the name of the patient and the date and time of the patient’s admittance to the facility. The exposure control officer for the transporting emergency medical services agency shall investigate the incident to determine if any exposure of emergency medical services personnel or other emergency personnel occurred. The identity of the patient and all personnel involved in any such investigation shall be confidential.F\n\nIf any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider is exposed to a communicable disease, the exposure control officer shall immediately notify the infection control practitioner of the receiving facility. The infection control practitioner of the facility shall conduct an investigation and provide information concerning the extent and severity of the exposure and the recommended course of action to the exposure control officer of the transporting agency.G\n\nAny person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual known to the requesting person (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such public safety agency employee of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease.H\n\nLocal or state correctional facilities which transfer patients known to have a communicable disease or to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall notify the emergency medical services agency providing transportation services of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease, including a communicable disease of public health threat. For the purposes of this section, the chief medical person at a local or state correctional facility or the facility director or his designee shall be responsible for providing such information to the transporting agency.I\n\nAny person who, as a result of this provision, becomes aware of the identity or condition of a person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, or to have suffered exposure to a communicable disease or (ii) subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall keep such information confidential, except as expressly authorized by this provision.J\n\nNo person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, including any communicable disease of public health threat, or (ii) subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall be refused transportation or service for that reason by an emergency medical services, law-enforcement, or public safety agency.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":292674,"text":"For the purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Communicable disease of public health threat” means an illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner in accordance with regulations of the Board of Health, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to be readily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual or person to another or to uninfected persons through airborne or nonairborne means and has been found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment; this definition shall not, however, be construed to include human immunodeficiency viruses or tuberculosis, unless used as a bioterrorism weapon. “Individual” shall include any companion animal.\n\t\t\t“Communicable diseases” means any airborne infection or disease, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis, measles, certain meningococcal infections, mumps, chicken pox and Hemophilus Influenzae Type b, and those transmitted by contact with blood or other human body fluids, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B and Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":292675,"text":"Every licensed health care facility that transfers or receives patients via emergency medical services vehicles shall notify the emergency medical services agencies providing such patient transport of the name and telephone number of the individual who is the infection control practitioner with the responsibility of investigating exposure to infectious diseases in the facility.\n\t\t\tEvery emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner and that is established in the Commonwealth shall notify all facilities to which it transports patients or from which it transfers patients of the names and telephone numbers of the members, not to exceed three persons, who have been appointed to serve as the exposure control officers. Every emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner shall implement universal precautions and shall ensure that these precautions are appropriately followed and enforced.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":292676,"text":"Upon requesting any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner to transfer a patient who is known to be positive for or who suffers from any communicable disease, the transferring facility shall inform the attendant-in-charge of the transferring crew of the general condition of the patient and the types of precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The identity of the patient shall be confidential.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":292677,"text":"If any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider has an exposure of blood or body fluid to mucous membrane or non-intact skin or a contaminated needlestick injury, his exposure control officer shall be notified, a report completed, and the infection control practitioner at the receiving facility notified.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":292678,"text":"If, during the course of medical care and treatment, any physician determines that a patient who was transported to a receiving facility by any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner (i) is positive for or has been diagnosed as suffering from an airborne infectious disease or (ii) is subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, then the infection control practitioner in the facility shall immediately notify the exposure control officer who represents the transporting emergency medical services agency of the name of the patient and the date and time of the patient’s admittance to the facility. The exposure control officer for the transporting emergency medical services agency shall investigate the incident to determine if any exposure of emergency medical services personnel or other emergency personnel occurred. The identity of the patient and all personnel involved in any such investigation shall be confidential.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":292679,"text":"If any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider is exposed to a communicable disease, the exposure control officer shall immediately notify the infection control practitioner of the receiving facility. The infection control practitioner of the facility shall conduct an investigation and provide information concerning the extent and severity of the exposure and the recommended course of action to the exposure control officer of the transporting agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":292680,"text":"Any person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual known to the requesting person (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such public safety agency employee of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":292681,"text":"Local or state correctional facilities which transfer patients known to have a communicable disease or to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall notify the emergency medical services agency providing transportation services of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease, including a communicable disease of public health threat. For the purposes of this section, the chief medical person at a local or state correctional facility or the facility director or his designee shall be responsible for providing such information to the transporting agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"8":{"id":292682,"text":"Any person who, as a result of this provision, becomes aware of the identity or condition of a person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, or to have suffered exposure to a communicable disease or (ii) subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall keep such information confidential, except as expressly authorized by this provision.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H","next_prefix":"J"},"9":{"id":292683,"text":"No person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, including any communicable disease of public health threat, or (ii) subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall be refused transportation or service for that reason by an emergency medical services, law-enforcement, or public safety agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["J"],"prefix":"J","entire_prefix":"J","prefix_anchor":"J","level":1,"prior_prefix":"I"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15330,"edition_id":1,"name":"Emergency Medical Services Patient Care Information System","identifier":"3.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13670,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:01","permalink":{"id":202679,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15330,"identifier":"3.1","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1","url":"\/32.1\/4\/3.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13670,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health Care Planning","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:31","permalink":{"id":202389,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13670,"identifier":"4","token":"32.1\/4","url":"\/32.1\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66206,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.1","catch_line":"Prehospital patient care reporting procedure; trauma registry; confidentiality","url":"\/32.1-116.1\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.1","metadata":false},{"id":75620,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.1:1","catch_line":"Disclosure of medical records","url":"\/32.1-116.1_1\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":58362,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.1:2","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/32.1-116.1_2\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":75772,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.2","catch_line":"Confidential nature of information supplied; publication; liability protections","url":"\/32.1-116.2\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.2","metadata":false},{"id":81701,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.3","catch_line":"Reporting of communicable diseases; definitions","url":"\/32.1-116.3\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75772,"structure_id":15330,"section_number":"32.1-116.2","catch_line":"Confidential nature of information supplied; publication; liability protections","url":"\/32.1-116.2\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-116.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 760 and 789 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1988 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1989, chapter 443; in 1993, chapter 655; in 2004, chapters 773<\/a> and 1021<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 118<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 478<\/a> and 552<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 502<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79587,"section_number":"32.1-48.015","catch_line":"Authorization to disclose health records","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-48.015\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":68561,"section_number":"32.1-45.2","catch_line":"Public safety employees; testing for blood-borne pathogens; procedure available for certain citizens; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-45.2\/"},{"id":72908,"section_number":"32.1-48.05","catch_line":"Application of article; determination of exceptional circumstances; regulations; duties of the State Health Commissioner not be delegated","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-48.05\/"}],"permalink":{"id":202697,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81701,"identifier":"32.1-116.3","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.3","url":"\/32.1-116.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-116.3\/","token":"32.1\/4\/3.1\/32.1-116.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reporting of communicable diseases; definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-116.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For the purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Communicable disease of public health threat<\/span>” means an illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner<\/span> in accordance with regulations of the Board<\/span> of Health, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to be readily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual<\/span> or person<\/span> to another or to uninfected persons<\/span> through airborne or nonairborne means and has been found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment; this definition shall not, however, be construed to include human immunodeficiency viruses or tuberculosis, unless used as a bioterrorism weapon. “Individual<\/span>” shall include any companion animal.\n\t\t\t“Communicable diseases<\/span>” means any airborne infection or disease, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis, measles, certain meningococcal infections, mumps, chicken pox and Hemophilus Influenzae Type b, and those transmitted by contact with blood or other human body fluids, including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B and Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Every licensed health care facility that transfers or receives patients via emergency medical services vehicles shall notify the emergency medical services agencies providing such patient transport of the name and telephone number of the individual<\/span> who is the infection control practitioner with the responsibility of investigating exposure to infectious diseases in the facility.\n\t\t\tEvery emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner<\/span> and that is established in the Commonwealth shall notify all facilities to which it transports patients or from which it transfers patients of the names and telephone numbers of the members, not to exceed three persons<\/span>, who have been appointed to serve as the exposure control officers. Every emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner<\/span> shall implement universal precautions and shall ensure that these precautions are appropriately followed and enforced. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Upon requesting any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner<\/span> to transfer a patient who is known to be positive for or who suffers from any communicable disease, the transferring facility shall inform the attendant-in-charge of the transferring crew of the general condition of the patient and the types of precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The identity of the patient shall be confidential. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> If any firefighter, law<\/span>-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider has an exposure of blood or body fluid to mucous membrane or non-intact skin or a contaminated needlestick injury, his exposure control officer shall be notified, a report completed, and the infection control practitioner at the receiving facility notified. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> If, during the course of medical care and treatment, any physician determines that a patient who was transported to a receiving facility by any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner<\/span> (i) is positive for or has been diagnosed as suffering from an airborne infectious disease or (ii) is subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine or an order<\/span> of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2, then the infection control practitioner in the facility shall immediately notify the exposure control officer who represents the transporting emergency medical services agency of the name of the patient and the date and time of the patient’s admittance to the facility. The exposure control officer for the transporting emergency medical services agency shall investigate the incident to determine if any exposure of emergency medical services personnel or other emergency personnel occurred. The identity of the patient and all personnel involved in any such investigation shall be confidential. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> If any firefighter, law<\/span>-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services provider is exposed to a communicable disease, the exposure control officer shall immediately notify the infection control practitioner of the receiving facility. The infection control practitioner of the facility shall conduct an investigation and provide information concerning the extent and severity of the exposure and the recommended course of action to the exposure control officer of the transporting agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Any person<\/span> requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2<\/a> to arrest<\/span>, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual<\/span> known to the requesting person<\/span> (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine or an order<\/span> of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such public safety agency employee of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> Local or state correctional facilities which transfer patients known to have a communicable disease or to be subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine or an order<\/span> of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall notify the emergency medical services agency providing transportation services of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease, including a communicable disease of public health threat<\/span>. For the purposes of this section, the chief medical person<\/span> at a local or state correctional facility or the facility director or his designee shall be responsible for providing such information to the transporting agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> Any person<\/span> who, as a result of this provision, becomes aware of the identity or condition of a person<\/span> known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, or to have suffered exposure to a communicable disease or (ii) subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine or an order<\/span> of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall keep such information confidential, except as expressly authorized by this provision. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

J.<\/span> No person<\/span> known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable disease, including any communicable disease of public health threat<\/span>, or (ii) subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine or an order<\/span> of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall be refused transportation or service for that reason by an emergency medical services, law<\/span>-enforcement, or public safety agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPORTING OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES; DEFINITIONS (\u00a7 32.1-116.3)\n\nA. For the purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Communicable disease of public health threat” means an illness\nof public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner in\naccordance with regulations of the Board of Health, caused by a specific or\nsuspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to be\nreadily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual or person to\nanother or to uninfected persons through airborne or nonairborne means and has\nbeen found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment; this\ndefinition shall not, however, be construed to include human immunodeficiency\nviruses or tuberculosis, unless used as a bioterrorism weapon.\n“Individual” shall include any companion animal.\n\t\t\t“Communicable diseases” means any airborne infection or disease,\nincluding, but not limited to, tuberculosis, measles, certain meningococcal\ninfections, mumps, chicken pox and Hemophilus Influenzae Type b, and those\ntransmitted by contact with blood or other human body fluids, including, but not\nlimited to, human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B and Non-A, Non-B\nHepatitis.\n\nB. Every licensed health care facility that transfers or receives patients via\nemergency medical services vehicles shall notify the emergency medical services\nagencies providing such patient transport of the name and telephone number of\nthe individual who is the infection control practitioner with the responsibility\nof investigating exposure to infectious diseases in the facility.\n\t\t\tEvery emergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by\nthe Commissioner and that is established in the Commonwealth shall notify all\nfacilities to which it transports patients or from which it transfers patients\nof the names and telephone numbers of the members, not to exceed three persons,\nwho have been appointed to serve as the exposure control officers. Every\nemergency medical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the\nCommissioner shall implement universal precautions and shall ensure that these\nprecautions are appropriately followed and enforced.\n\nC. Upon requesting any emergency medical services agency that holds a valid\nlicense issued by the Commissioner to transfer a patient who is known to be\npositive for or who suffers from any communicable disease, the transferring\nfacility shall inform the attendant-in-charge of the transferring crew of the\ngeneral condition of the patient and the types of precautions to be taken to\nprevent the spread of the disease. The identity of the patient shall be\nconfidential.\n\nD. If any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services\nprovider has an exposure of blood or body fluid to mucous membrane or non-intact\nskin or a contaminated needlestick injury, his exposure control officer shall be\nnotified, a report completed, and the infection control practitioner at the\nreceiving facility notified.\n\nE. If, during the course of medical care and treatment, any physician determines\nthat a patient who was transported to a receiving facility by any emergency\nmedical services agency that holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner\n(i) is positive for or has been diagnosed as suffering from an airborne\ninfectious disease or (ii) is subject to an order of quarantine or an order of\nisolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2,\nthen the infection control practitioner in the facility shall immediately notify\nthe exposure control officer who represents the transporting emergency medical\nservices agency of the name of the patient and the date and time of the\npatient’s admittance to the facility. The exposure control officer for the\ntransporting emergency medical services agency shall investigate the incident to\ndetermine if any exposure of emergency medical services personnel or other\nemergency personnel occurred. The identity of the patient and all personnel\ninvolved in any such investigation shall be confidential.\n\nF. If any firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services\nprovider is exposed to a communicable disease, the exposure control officer\nshall immediately notify the infection control practitioner of the receiving\nfacility. The infection control practitioner of the facility shall conduct an\ninvestigation and provide information concerning the extent and severity of the\nexposure and the recommended course of action to the exposure control officer of\nthe transporting agency.\n\nG. Any person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as\ndefined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise\nexercise custodial supervision over an individual known to the requesting person\n(i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an\norder of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§\n32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such public safety agency employee\nof a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease.\n\nH. Local or state correctional facilities which transfer patients known to have\na communicable disease or to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of\nisolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2\nshall notify the emergency medical services agency providing transportation\nservices of a potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease, including a\ncommunicable disease of public health threat. For the purposes of this section,\nthe chief medical person at a local or state correctional facility or the\nfacility director or his designee shall be responsible for providing such\ninformation to the transporting agency.\n\nI. Any person who, as a result of this provision, becomes aware of the identity\nor condition of a person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any\ncommunicable disease, or to have suffered exposure to a communicable disease or\n(ii) subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to\nArticle 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall keep such\ninformation confidential, except as expressly authorized by this provision.\n\nJ. No person known to be (i) positive for or to suffer from any communicable\ndisease, including any communicable disease of public health threat, or (ii)\nsubject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article\n3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2, shall be refused transportation\nor service for that reason by an emergency medical services, law-enforcement, or\npublic safety agency.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, cc. 760, 789; 1989, c. 443; 1993, c. 655; 2004, cc. 773, 1021;\n2008, c. 118; 2009, cc. 478, 552; 2015, cc. 502, 503; 2020, c. 502.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}