Requires health department to promulgate rules regarding staffing standards for certain health care facilities and monitor compliance therewith

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the department of health to promulgate rules establishing staffing standards for certain health care facilities, and providing methods for demonstrating compliance with such rules

Purpose

Requires the health department to establish rules and regulations regarding nurse to patient ratios for certain health care facilities and monitor compliance.

Summary of provisions

Section 2 directs the department to promulgate necessary rules and regulations to establish staffing standards for hospitals. These rules and regulations will be designed to ensure that the classifications, skills, experience and numbers of health care professionals providing direct care are sufficient to meet the needs of hospital patients.

Each hospital must maintain an internal review mechanism that ensures compliance and provides for the review of incidents and staff concerns.

Each hospital will annually file with department a statement of compliance.

Justification

Adequate nurse staffing is critical to ensure high quality patient care. Nurses at every level have experienced staffing problems which have added an unnecessary burden to the workplace and jeopardized the care patients receive.

This legislation directs the Department of Health to establish rules and regulations establishing an effective nurse to patient ratio for New York State hospitals. Based on these rules, hospitals will establish a policy to ensure the needs of hospital patients are met.

Legislative history

S.1502 of 2013/14.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.