95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0392


 
Introduced 1/26/2007, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













New Act










    Creates the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. Provides that every hospital must implement a staffing plan that:
(1) provides adequate, appropriate, and quality delivery of health care services and protects patient safety; and
(2) is consistent with the requirements of the Act concerning minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios. Sets forth minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios, according to the type of hospital unit. Provides that the Department of Public Health may apply those minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios to another type of hospital unit if that other unit performs a function similar to the function performed by the unit referred to in the minimum ratio standards. Provides that the minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios do not apply during a declared state of emergency if a hospital is requested or expected to provide an exceptional level of emergency or other medical services. Effective immediately.
















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY


STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0392

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    AN ACT concerning health.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Nurse 
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Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act.
 
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    Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "hospital" means a 
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hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act.
 
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    Section 10. Staffing plan required. Every hospital shall 
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implement a staffing plan that:
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        (1) provides adequate, appropriate, and quality 
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    delivery of health care services and protects patient 
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    safety; and
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        (2) is consistent with the requirements of this Act.

 
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    Section 15. Minimum direct care registered 
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nurse-to-patient ratios. A hospital's staffing plan shall 
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provide that, during each shift within a unit of the hospital, 
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a direct care registered nurse may be assigned to not more than 
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the following number of patients in that unit:
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        (1) One patient in operating rooms and trauma emergency 
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    units.
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        (2) Two patients in critical care units, including 
 


 






HB0392
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    emergency critical care and intensive care units, labor and 
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    delivery units, and postanesthesia units.
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        (3) Three patients in antepartum units, emergency room 
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    units, medical/surgical units, and acute care psychiatric 
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    units.
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        (4) Four patients in intermediate care nursery units, 
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    medical/surgical units, pediatrics units, stepdown units, 
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    and telemetry units.
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        (5) Five patients in rehabilitation units.
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        (6) Six patients in postpartum (3 couplets) units and 
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    well-baby nursery units.

 
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    Section 20. Other hospital units. The Department of Public 
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Health may apply minimum direct care registered 
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nurse-to-patient ratios established in Section 15 to a type of 
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hospital unit not referred to in Section 15 if the other unit 
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performs a function similar to the function performed by the 
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unit referred to in Section 15.
 
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    Section 25. State of emergency. The requirements 
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established under Sections 15 and 20 do not apply during a 
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declared state of emergency if a hospital is requested or 
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expected to provide an exceptional level of emergency or other 
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medical services.

 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.