By June 30, 1995, a licensed clinic board of directors and its medical director shall establish and adopt written policies and procedures to screen patients for purposes of detecting spousal or partner abuse. The policies shall include procedures to accomplish all of the following:
provide, or arrange for, the evaluation, counseling, and care of persons experiencing spousal or partner abuse, including, but not limited to, hot lines, local domestic violence shelter-based programs, legal services, and information about temporary restraining orders.
It is the intent of the Legislature that clinics, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section, adopt guidelines similar to those developed by the American Medical Association regarding domestic violence detection and referral. The Legislature recognizes that while guidelines evolve and change, the American Medical Association’s guidelines may serve, at this time, as a model for clinics to follow.
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