SB0867 Engrossed LRB095 05612 DRJ 25702 b

1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Hospital Licensing Act is amended by adding
5 Section 10.10 as follows:
 
6     (210 ILCS 85/10.10 new)
7     Sec. 10.10. Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity.
8     (a) Findings. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
9 following:
10         (1) The State of Illinois has a substantial interest in
11     promoting quality care and improving the delivery of health
12     care services.
13         (2) Evidence-based studies have shown that the basic
14     principles of staffing in the acute care setting should be
15     based on the complexity of patients' care needs aligned
16     with available nursing skills to promote quality patient
17     care consistent with professional nursing standards.
18         (3) Compliance with this Section promotes an
19     organizational climate that values registered nurses'
20     input in meeting the health care needs of hospital
21     patients.
22     (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
23     "Acuity model" means an assessment tool selected and

 

 

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1 implemented by a hospital, as recommended by a nursing care
2 committee, that assesses the complexity of patient care needs
3 requiring professional nursing care and skills and aligns
4 patient care needs and nursing skills consistent with
5 professional nursing standards.
6     "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
7     "Direct patient care" means care provided by a registered
8 professional nurse with direct responsibility to oversee or
9 carry out medical regimens or nursing care for one or more
10 patients.
11     "Nursing care committee" means an existing or newly created
12 hospital-wide committee or committees of nurses whose
13 functions, in part or in whole, contribute to the development,
14 recommendation, and review of the hospital's nurse staffing
15 plan established pursuant to subsection (d).
16     "Registered professional nurse" means a person licensed as
17 a Registered Nurse under the Nursing and Advanced Practice
18 Nursing Act.
19     "Written staffing plan for nursing care services" means a
20 written plan for guiding the assignment of patient care nursing
21 staff based on multiple nurse and patient considerations that
22 yield minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units and the
23 adopted acuity model aligning patient care needs with nursing
24 skills required for quality patient care consistent with
25 professional nursing standards.
26     (c) Written staffing plan.

 

 

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1         (1) Every hospital shall implement a written
2     hospital-wide staffing plan, recommended by a nursing care
3     committee or committees, that provides for minimum direct
4     care professional registered nurse-to-patient staffing
5     needs for each inpatient care unit. The written
6     hospital-wide staffing plan shall include, but need not be
7     limited to, the following considerations:
8             (A) The complexity of complete care, assessment on
9         patient admission, volume of patient admissions,
10         discharges and transfers, evaluation of the progress
11         of a patient's problems, ongoing physical assessments,
12         planning for a patient's discharge, assessment after a
13         change in patient condition, and assessment of the need
14         for patient referrals.
15             (B) The complexity of clinical professional
16         nursing judgment needed to design and implement a
17         patient's nursing care plan, the need for specialized
18         equipment and technology, the skill mix of other
19         personnel providing or supporting direct patient care,
20         and involvement in quality improvement activities,
21         professional preparation, and experience.
22             (C) Patient acuity and the number of patients for
23         whom care is being provided.
24             (D) The ongoing assessments of a unit's patient
25         acuity levels and nursing staff needed shall be
26         routinely made by the unit nurse manager or his or her

 

 

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1         designee.
2             (E) The identification of additional registered
3         nurses available for direct patient care when
4         patients' unexpected needs exceed the planned workload
5         for direct care staff.
6         (2) In order to provide staffing flexibility to meet
7     patient needs, every hospital shall identify an acuity
8     model for adjusting the staffing plan for each inpatient
9     care unit.
10         (3) The written staffing plan shall be posted in a
11     conspicuous and accessible location for both patients and
12     direct care staff, as required under the Hospital Report
13     Card Act.
14     (d) Nursing care committee.
15         (1) Every hospital shall have a nursing care committee.
16     A hospital shall appoint members of a committee whereby at
17     least 50% of the members are registered professional nurses
18     providing direct patient care.
19         (2) A nursing care committee's recommendations must be
20     given significant regard and weight in the hospital's
21     adoption and implementation of a written staffing plan.
22         (3) A nursing care committee or committees shall
23     recommend a written staffing plan for the hospital based on
24     the principles from the staffing components set forth in
25     subsection (c). In particular, a committee or committees
26     shall provide input and feedback on the following:

 

 

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1             (A) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
2         minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units.
3             (B) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
4         an acuity model to provide staffing flexibility that
5         aligns changing patient acuity with nursing skills
6         required.
7             (C) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of a
8         written staffing plan incorporating the items
9         described in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this
10         Section.
11             (D) Review the following: nurse-to-patient
12         staffing guidelines for all inpatient areas; and
13         current acuity tools and measures in use.
14         (4) A nursing care committee must address the items
15     described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (3)
16     semi-annually.
17     (e) Nothing is this Section 10.10 shall be construed to
18 limit, alter, or modify any of the terms, conditions, or
19 provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by
20 the hospital.
 
21     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
22 1, 2008.