SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois lawmakers could soon pass a plan to address the ratios of healthcare workers to patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Workers are demanding significant changes to improve quality of care and tackle burnout across the industry.
The people taking care of your loved ones told a joint committee of lawmakers Tuesday that they are fed up with their working conditions.
"Some of these nursing home workers have 20 patients. On third shift, it might be one CNA to one floor," said Denise Stiger, the union organizer for Teamsters Local 743. "So, that means she is doing the whole floor. Even though they're saying that the patients are asleep at night, they still have to be changed. They still have to be cleaned."
Advocates said there is no regulation to require hospitals have a minimum amount of staff. They stressed that working short staff is a safety issue for employees and their patients.
Lawmakers are considering a plan that could limit the number of patients that can be assigned to each nurse or other healthcare provider.
"When workers are put in unsafe conditions due to working short, many of us fear that if we were to object that, consequently, we would face retaliation from management," said Marcus Buell, a housekeeper at Northwestern Medicine and member of SEIU Healthcare.Â
The Safe Patient Limits Act could protect whistleblowers who speak out about unsafe conditions for patients and staff. It would also require the Illinois Department of Public Health and Attorney General to enforce safe patient limits in all healthcare facilities.
"People are dying," said Michelle Mahon, Assistant Director of Nursing Practice at National Nurses United. "It is time to put in place the kind of life-saving legislation that has been enacted in California, that was in place since 2004, that has shown that we can save tens of thousands of lives across this country and keep nurses at the bedside."
Although, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association opposes the idea as members argue that the state does not have additional nurses available to meet the mandate.
"I'm deeply concerned that many hospitals in this state, particularly safety net hospitals and critical access hospitals, will be unable to absorb the huge costs that ratios would impose," said IHA President and CEO AJ Wilhelmi. "Given the enormous financial pressures that Illinois hospitals already face, if this bill becomes law, they're going to have to make some tough decisions like cutting back services, closing hundreds of beds and eliminating jobs."
Opponents also claimed some hospitals may be forced to close if the change becomes law.
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