May 04, 2021
The New York State Legislature approved measures that will require hospitals and nursing homes to meet minimum staffing levels of nurses and other health care staff.
Measures mandating minimum staffing at health care facilities have been around for several years, but the spotlight on stressed and understaffed hospitals and nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic finally prompted the bill’s passage.
Senate sponsor and Health Committee chair Gustavo Rivera spoke before the vote.
“This is an historic moment,” said Rivera, who added that in the decade he’s held office, he’s had more meetings on the topic than any other issue.
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The New York State legislature approved measures that will require that hospitals and nursing homes meet minimum staffing levels of nurses and other health
Pandemic Fuels Passage Of NY Bills To Prevent Understaffing In Hospitals And Nursing Homes
arrow A medical employee steps outside of an emergency room at Elmhurst Hospital Center, April 4th, 2021 Mary Altaffer/AP/Shutterstock
After years of languishing in the state legislature, measures to create minimum staffing requirements for hospitals and nursing homes passed both houses on Tuesday.
Nurses say short staffing is a long-time issue, and research shows that the shortcoming can worsen patient outcomes and mortality rates. The problem gained new attention and urgency as overburdened clinical staff struggled to keep patients alive during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes significant changes that appease powerful hospital lobbyists who have historically opposed staffing mandates.
WAMC s Jim Levulis speaks with AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel.
Finkel: Right now, it s got a 3.5 hourly rate [per patient]. But the CMS recommends 4.1. So we feel like New York state needs to look at the threshold that CMS has suggested for nursing homes. We re also concerned because they lump together RNs [registered nurses] and LPNs [licensed practical nurses] together in that ratio. And we know that if registered nurses are giving more services directly to the patient that the quality of care for the patient shoots way up. So we need to be looking at that.
Levulis: Now overall, have the investigations into New York s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, including death data, made nursing home residents and their families question the safety of the facilities and that the overall nursing home system has residents’ health and needs as the top priority?