SB2270 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 17023 BDD 42687 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2270

Introduced 1/15/2004, by John M. Sullivan

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2310/2310-228 new

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to establish and administer a nursing workforce database. Provides that the objective of establishing the database shall be the collection and analysis of data that is related to nursing and to the nursing workforce, so that conclusions may be drawn relating to current nursing supply, demand, and workforce concerns in the State and to future workforce projections and needs. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the database. Provides that no later than January 15, 2006, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and members of the General Assembly regarding the development of the database and the effectiveness of its use.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning the Department of Public Health.

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

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-228 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-228 new)

Sec. 2310-228. Nursing workforce database.

(a) The Department shall establish and administer a nursing workforce database. The database shall be assembled and maintained with the assistance of the Department of Professional Regulation, the Department of Labor, the Department of Employment Security, and any other State agency or department with access to nursing and nursing workforce-related information.

(b) The objective of establishing the database shall be the collection and analysis of data related to nursing and to the nursing workforce, so that conclusions may be drawn relating to current nursing supply, demand, and workforce concerns in the State and to future workforce projections and needs. The information to be collected and analyzed shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Nursing supply and demand, including issues relating to the recruitment and retention of nurses and the effective and efficient use of nursing workforce resources.

(2) Analysis and acuity measurements relating to nursing quality, including patient classification systems, patient outcomes, the amount of direct nursing care, and outcomes indicators.

(3) Research concerning nurse classifications to ensure that distinctions in the scope of practicing and practice settings are identified and analyzed, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice nurses.

(4) Information compiled by other sources, including national associations, institutions of higher learning, medical journals, and State medical societies, that facilitates the analysis of the correlations between nurse staffing issues and patient outcomes and the quality of patient care.

(5) State, regional, and local nursing shortages.

(6) The extent to which unlicensed personnel are used in the health care field and the impact upon nursing staffing, quality, and patient care.

(c) To accomplish the objectives set forth in subsection (b), information obtained and assembled by the Department into a database may be used by the Department, medical institutions and societies, and other interested parties to assess current and projected nursing workforce shortfalls and develop strategies for overcoming them; to more effectively conduct analysis of (i) patient classification systems and outcomes, (ii) nursing workload comparisons, including the amount of direct nursing care, (iii) outcomes indicators, and (iv) other research conducted to ensure quality patient care and nursing competence; to publish or distribute information regarding conclusions to be drawn from the database information; to recommend systemic changes and strategies for their implementation; and to share and collaborate with other states that collect health data, nursing workforce outcomes, and quantitative information related to direct nursing care. Additionally, schools of nursing may use the database to assist in determining enrollment, educational curriculum, and related nursing workforce educational issues and needs.

(d) No later than January 15, 2006, the Department shall submit a report to the Governor and to the members of the General Assembly regarding the development of the database and the effectiveness of its use.