HB2544 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 09489 DRJ 39740 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB2544

Introduced 2/18/2005, 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.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act.

Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "hospital" means a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act.

Section 10. Staffing plan required. Every hospital shall 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 this Act.

Section 15. Minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios. A hospital's staffing plan shall provide that, during each shift within a unit of the hospital, a direct care registered nurse may be assigned to not more than the following number of patients in that unit:

(1) One patient in operating rooms and trauma emergency units.

(2) Two patients in critical care units, including emergency critical care and intensive care units, labor and delivery units, and postanesthesia units.

(3) Three patients in antepartum units, emergency room units, medical/surgical units, and acute care psychiatric units.

(4) Four patients in intermediate care nursery units, medical/surgical units, pediatrics units, stepdown units, and telemetry units.

(5) Five patients in rehabilitation units.

(6) Six patients in postpartum (3 couplets) units and well-baby nursery units.

Section 20. Other hospital units. The Department of Public Health may apply minimum direct care registered nurse-to-patient ratios established in Section 15 to a type of hospital unit not referred to in Section 15 if the other unit performs a function similar to the function performed by the unit referred to in Section 15.

Section 25. State of emergency. The requirements established under Sections 15 and 20 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.

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