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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2009

Committee Approves Browne's Volunteer Education Bill

Senate Bill 464 would credit service by health care professionals

The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee approved legislation introduced by Senator Pat Browne (R-16) that would credit volunteer time by health care professionals toward their continuing education requirements.

Senate Bill 464, Senator Browne’s Volunteer Continuing Medical Education Act, would allow physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, or certified registered nurse practitioners, to apply volunteer time served in a community-based health care clinic towards the completion of no more than 20% of their mandatory continuing education hours required by their individual licensure boards.

"This is a win-win-win option for the state, for health care professionals, and for those who will use the services offered by those clinics," Senator Browne said. "Pennsylvania’s taxpayers will gain since this process would limit the cost burden of those clinics. Health care professionals can apply their skills in an environment where they may truly encounter situations, cases and circumstances that they might not normally see in the daily routines of their individual practices and hospitals. And, in turn, the benefit to patients is readily apparent as they will be treated by experienced professionals."

Contact:

Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349