CT SB00089

Requires hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities to develop policies for using surgical smoke evacuation systems to prevent exposure to surgical smoke by January 1, 2023.

Mandates implementation of surgical smoke evacuation policies by October 1, 2023, with facilities providing copies to the Department of Public Health upon request.

Defines "surgical smoke" as by-products from energy-generating devices during surgery, including surgical plume, bioaerosols, and laser-generated contaminants, but excludes smoke from gastroenterological or ophthalmic procedures not emitted into the operating room.

Defines "surgical smoke evacuation system" as equipment that captures and neutralizes surgical smoke at its source before it contacts the eyes or respiratory tract of operating room personnel.

Effective date of July 1, 2022, creating new regulations under Connecticut's general statutes.