093_SB1570

 
                                     LRB093 10807 BDD 11244 b

 1        AN ACT concerning the Department of Public Health.

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

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

 7        (20 ILCS 2310/2310-228 new)
 8        Sec. 2310-228.  Nursing workforce database.
 9        (a)  The Department  shall  establish  and  administer  a
10    nursing  workforce  database. The database shall be assembled
11    and maintained with  the  assistance  of  the  Department  of
12    Professional   Regulation,   the  Department  of  Labor,  the
13    Department of Employment Security, and any other State agency
14    or  department   with   access   to   nursing   and   nursing
15    workforce-related information.
16        (b)  The  objective of establishing the database shall be
17    the collection and analysis of data related to nursing and to
18    the nursing workforce,  so  that  conclusions  may  be  drawn
19    relating  to  current  nursing  supply, demand, and workforce
20    concerns in the State and to future workforce projections and
21    needs. The information to be  collected  and  analyzed  shall
22    include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
23             (1)  Nursing  supply  and  demand,  including issues
24        relating to the recruitment and retention of  nurses  and
25        the  effective  and  efficient  use  of nursing workforce
26        resources.
27             (2)  Analysis and acuity  measurements  relating  to
28        nursing   quality,   including   patient   classification
29        systems,  patient  outcomes, the amount of direct nursing
30        care, and outcomes indicators.
31             (3)  Research concerning  nurse  classifications  to
 
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 1        ensure  that  distinctions in the scope of practicing and
 2        practice settings are identified and analyzed,  including
 3        registered   nurses,   licensed   practical  nurses,  and
 4        advanced practice nurses.
 5             (4)  Information   compiled   by   other    sources,
 6        including  national  associations, institutions of higher
 7        learning, medical journals, and State medical  societies,
 8        that facilitates the analysis of the correlations between
 9        nurse  staffing  issues  and  patient  outcomes  and  the
10        quality of patient care.
11             (5)  State, regional, and local nursing shortages.
12             (6)  The  extent  to  which unlicensed personnel are
13        used in the health care field and the impact upon nursing
14        staffing, quality, and patient care.
15        (c)  To accomplish the objectives set forth in subsection
16    (b), information obtained and  assembled  by  the  Department
17    into  a  database  may  be  used  by  the Department, medical
18    institutions and societies, and other interested  parties  to
19    assess current and projected nursing workforce shortfalls and
20    develop  strategies  for overcoming them; to more effectively
21    conduct analysis of (i) patient  classification  systems  and
22    outcomes,  (ii)  nursing  workload comparisons, including the
23    amount of direct nursing care, (iii) outcomes indicators, and
24    (iv) other research conducted to ensure quality patient  care
25    and  nursing competence; to publish or distribute information
26    regarding  conclusions  to  be  drawn   from   the   database
27    information; to recommend systemic changes and strategies for
28    their implementation; and to share and collaborate with other
29    states  that collect health data, nursing workforce outcomes,
30    and quantitative information related to direct nursing  care.
31    Additionally,  schools  of  nursing  may  use the database to
32    assist in determining enrollment, educational curriculum, and
33    related nursing workforce educational issues and needs.
34        (d)  No later than January 15, 2005, the Department shall
 
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 1    submit a report to the Governor and to  the  members  of  the
 2    General  Assembly  regarding  the development of the database
 3    and the effectiveness of its use.