(A) If a patient or guardian makes a lay caregiver designation, the hospital shall do both of the following:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 3727.72

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Hospital: means an institution classified as a hospital under section 3701. See Ohio Code 3727.01
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59

(1) To the extent the information is available, record in the patient’s medical record the lay caregiver’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, and relationship to the patient;

(2) Request from the patient or guardian consent to disclose the patient’s medical information to the lay caregiver in accordance with hospital policy and state and federal law.

(B) If a patient or guardian declines to make a lay caregiver designation, the hospital shall note that decision in the patient’s medical record and have no other obligation under sections 3727.71 to 3727.79 of the Revised Code.