Advancing healthcare in Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Senate District 1

March 9, 2020

Capitol Considerations by Senator Micheal Bergstrom

Advancing health care

The Senate was busy this past week. We debated and voted on 175 pieces of legislation ahead of our March 12 deadline to hear the bills that originated in this chamber, and we still have 245 bills that we could consider by the deadline.

I had several bills pass off the floor this past week, including Senate Bill 1208, which would allow an individual to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional via telemedicine if an officer is dispatched to a mental health related call. In my opinion, top priorities in these circumstances include public safety in general, officer safety, and finding the best way reduce any tension. The expanded use of telemedicine, perhaps by handing the individual who is having the mental health issue a tablet so they can immediately communicate with a professional counselor, is a way to make these situations better. If Senate Bill 1208 is signed into law, it should help with patient diagnosis and treatment time and decrease the need for costly transports.

We also passed the Medical Care Provider Protection Act, which would strengthen our laws dealing with violence against health care workers. Nearly 75 percent of all workplace assaults happen in the medical field. One in four nurses have reported that they’ve experienced some sort of workplace violence. The measure would strengthen the penalty for assault and battery on a health care worker and expand protections for all employees in the health care field, including doctors, nurses, janitors, volunteers and even chaplains. I’m proud to co-author this bill that would take the first steps in addressing this violent issue.

Thank you for allowing me to be your voice in the State Senate. If you have any questions or concerns about upcoming legislation, please feel free to reach out to me. You can contact my office at 405-521-5561 or email me at Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov.

-30-

MAKE IT COUNT OKLAHOMA! Census Day is April 1 and Oklahoma needs a full count. An undercount in the census of just 2 percent can cost the state $1.8 billion in lost federal money over the next 10 years. Fill out your census form, Oklahoma. Learn more at: www.2020census.gov.