FL S1878

Requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to offer patients or their legal representatives the opportunity to designate a caregiver for aftercare at time of admission, with facilities not responsible for facilitating caregiver selection.

Designations must be documented on an agency-approved form with written consent allowing disclosure of confidential information to the designated caregiver; patients may change designations anytime before discharge.

Facilities must notify the designated caregiver as soon as practicable after a discharge or transfer order is issued, but inability to reach the caregiver cannot delay or interfere with the patient's care or discharge.

If the designated caregiver is reached and willing to help, the facility must provide the discharge plan and aftercare instructions and offer the opportunity to ask questions, but is not required to assess the caregiver's ability to perform aftercare.

Facilities, their employees, and contractors are immune from administrative, civil, and criminal liability for acts or omissions of the designated caregiver relating to aftercare.