STAFFING DISCLOSURE BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

One of HPAE's key legislative objectives was achieved when Governor Codey signed into law a bill that will require hospitals and nursing homes to post the staffing levels of licensed or registered health care professionals who provide direct patient care.

New Jersey is now the second state to require hospitals to disclose staffing levels. But while an Illinois law requires hospitals to provide staffing levels upon request, New Jersey's law requires that the staffing levels be posted in public areas of the hospital.

The law was co-sponsored by Sen. Joseph Vitale, Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblyman Sam Thompson.

HPAE was the leading advocate for the staffing disclosure bill. At the bill signing on January 24th, Governor Codey recognized HPAE's role by inviting HPAE leaders to witness his signature (see picture).

HPAE President Ann Twomey hailed the bill signing as a significant gain for both care health care workers and the public. According to Twomey, "consumers can use this information to choose hospitals and nursing homes more carefully, and to advocate for safer staffing in hospitals and nursing homes."

HPAE will use the staffing data to ask state regulators to examine the relationship between unsafe nurse to patient ratios and unsafe care, including medical errors. Several studies have already documented a link between nurse to patient ratios and patient outcomes.

Our next step is to fight for passage of a staffing ratio bill that mandates nurse to patient ratios in various hospital units. Staffing ratios are essential for ensuring that health care professionals can provide quality patient care.
 

Details of the Staffing Disclosure Bill

 

  •  The staffing disclosure bill will be in effect six months from the date of signing
    (July 24, 2005).
  •  Hospitals and nursing homes will have to tally the number of nurses and other
    health care professionals, as well as the ratio of staff to patients, on each shift.
  •  Hospitals and nursing homes will have to explain how they adjust staffing levels to
    take account of different factors (e.g. acuity).
  •  The tally of staff and ratios must be displayed in an area visible to patients and their
    families.
  •  Information must also be provided upon request to the public.
  •  The hospitals and nursing home must send this information to the state Health Department on a monthly basis.
  • The state Health Department will issue quarterly reports that will include a written explanation to help the public interpret the data provided by the hospital.