Bill Text: IL SB1342 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a copy of the written staffing plan for nursing care services shall be provided to any member of the general public upon request.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-16 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0423 [SB1342 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB1342-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 097-0423
SB1342 Enrolled LRB097 09335 RPM 49470 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Hospital Licensing Act is amended by
changing Section 10.10 as follows:
(210 ILCS 85/10.10)
Sec. 10.10. Nurse Staffing by Patient Acuity.
(a) Findings. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(1) The State of Illinois has a substantial interest in
promoting quality care and improving the delivery of health
care services.
(2) Evidence-based studies have shown that the basic
principles of staffing in the acute care setting should be
based on the complexity of patients' care needs aligned
with available nursing skills to promote quality patient
care consistent with professional nursing standards.
(3) Compliance with this Section promotes an
organizational climate that values registered nurses'
input in meeting the health care needs of hospital
patients.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
"Acuity model" means an assessment tool selected and

implemented by a hospital, as recommended by a nursing care
committee, that assesses the complexity of patient care needs
requiring professional nursing care and skills and aligns
patient care needs and nursing skills consistent with
professional nursing standards.
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Direct patient care" means care provided by a registered
professional nurse with direct responsibility to oversee or
carry out medical regimens or nursing care for one or more
patients.
"Nursing care committee" means an existing or newly created
hospital-wide committee or committees of nurses whose
functions, in part or in whole, contribute to the development,
recommendation, and review of the hospital's nurse staffing
plan established pursuant to subsection (d).
"Registered professional nurse" means a person licensed as
a Registered Nurse under the Nurse Practice Act.
"Written staffing plan for nursing care services" means a
written plan for guiding the assignment of patient care nursing
staff based on multiple nurse and patient considerations that
yield minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units and the
adopted acuity model aligning patient care needs with nursing
skills required for quality patient care consistent with
professional nursing standards.
(c) Written staffing plan.
(1) Every hospital shall implement a written

hospital-wide staffing plan, recommended by a nursing care
committee or committees, that provides for minimum direct
care professional registered nurse-to-patient staffing
needs for each inpatient care unit. The written
hospital-wide staffing plan shall include, but need not be
limited to, the following considerations:
(A) The complexity of complete care, assessment on
patient admission, volume of patient admissions,
discharges and transfers, evaluation of the progress
of a patient's problems, ongoing physical assessments,
planning for a patient's discharge, assessment after a
change in patient condition, and assessment of the need
for patient referrals.
(B) The complexity of clinical professional
nursing judgment needed to design and implement a
patient's nursing care plan, the need for specialized
equipment and technology, the skill mix of other
personnel providing or supporting direct patient care,
and involvement in quality improvement activities,
professional preparation, and experience.
(C) Patient acuity and the number of patients for
whom care is being provided.
(D) The ongoing assessments of a unit's patient
acuity levels and nursing staff needed shall be
routinely made by the unit nurse manager or his or her
designee.

(E) The identification of additional registered
nurses available for direct patient care when
patients' unexpected needs exceed the planned workload
for direct care staff.
(2) In order to provide staffing flexibility to meet
patient needs, every hospital shall identify an acuity
model for adjusting the staffing plan for each inpatient
care unit.
(3) The written staffing plan shall be posted in a
conspicuous and accessible location for both patients and
direct care staff, as required under the Hospital Report
Card Act. A copy of the written staffing plan shall be
provided to any member of the general public upon request.
(d) Nursing care committee.
(1) Every hospital shall have a nursing care committee.
A hospital shall appoint members of a committee whereby at
least 50% of the members are registered professional nurses
providing direct patient care.
(2) A nursing care committee's recommendations must be
given significant regard and weight in the hospital's
adoption and implementation of a written staffing plan.
(3) A nursing care committee or committees shall
recommend a written staffing plan for the hospital based on
the principles from the staffing components set forth in
subsection (c). In particular, a committee or committees
shall provide input and feedback on the following:

(A) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
minimum staffing levels for inpatient care units.
(B) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of
an acuity model to provide staffing flexibility that
aligns changing patient acuity with nursing skills
required.
(C) Selection, implementation, and evaluation of a
written staffing plan incorporating the items
described in subdivisions (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this
Section.
(D) Review the following: nurse-to-patient
staffing guidelines for all inpatient areas; and
current acuity tools and measures in use.
(4) A nursing care committee must address the items
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (3)
semi-annually.
(e) Nothing is this Section 10.10 shall be construed to
limit, alter, or modify any of the terms, conditions, or
provisions of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by
the hospital.
(Source: P.A. 95-401, eff. 1-1-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)