Union lobbies legislators over hospital staffing, information

Art Nadler

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 11:16 a.m.

Representatives from the Service Employees International Union are hoping the Legislature will back its initiative to squeeze more information from state hospitals.

The union lobbied the Legislative Committee on Health Care Monday for support of its Quality of Care Act. The proposal would require minimum staffing standards at hospitals and require that hospitals and health-care facilities disclose information on patients' treatments.

Hospitals are exempt from sharing patient information, because they have peer review privilege -- the authority to police themselves.

Dr. Mitch Keamy, past president of the Clark County Medical Society, testified that hospital patient care has declined over the past three years. He said that simple care is being omitted because nurses are too busy, treatment is delayed for lack of hospital staffing and nurses often don't know the names of the patients on their floors.

Theresa Morrow, a registered nurse and member of the union, said the ratio of nurses to patients in some hospitals is 1 to 11. She said the bill would require that staffing be based on patients' needs.

"We can't fill the existing nursing positions now," said Jim Wadhams, a spokesman for the managed care and hospital industry. "Where do we get the nurses?"

Wadhams said mandating that hospitals have certain staffing levels will only add to the pressure of the hospitals trying to fill the current nursing shortage.

The union is seeking a legislative sponsor for its Quality of Care Act bill. It consists of four parts:

* The collection and disclosure of information on hospital staffing, patient census and patient outcomes.

* Whistleblower protection for health-care professionals.

* Staffing standards to meet patient requirements.

* Sanctions against hospitals and medical facilities that don't meet quality patient care standards.