NURSE STAFFING RATIOS
Letter to Department of Health Services With Suggested Staffing Ratios
OPEN printable Microsoft Word® document — .doc file. (86 Kb)
August 2, 2000
Brenda Klutz
Deputy Director
California Department of Health Services
Post Office Box 942732
1800 - 3rd Street, Suite 210
Sacramento, California 94234-7320
Dear Brenda:
As the California Hospital Association (CHA) and Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) attempt to provide recommendations regarding the implementation of AB 394 and nurse staffing ratios, we continue to have significant concerns about the lack of statistically significant data on which to base our recommendations. To date, there are no studies that define or suggest appropriate ratios.
The California Nursing Outcomes Coalition (CalNOC) is currently engaged in a process that correlates patient falls, skin ulcers and satisfaction with skill mix and hours per patient day (HPPD). CalNOC has the largest database and is the only real-time project of this kind. In the near future, it will have the ability to scientifically determine if HPPD and skill mix actually affect outcomes. Considering the enormous implications nurse-to-patient ratios will have on hospitals, the workforce, and the health care provided to the citizens of California it would be our suggestion that the department delay implementation of AB 394 until CalNOC can provide evidence based on data relative to nurse/patient ratios. Recognizing that AB 394 demands implementation by 1/1/01, which will most likely be changed to 1/1/02, we suggest a process that would provide for additional decisions to be made once the data is available. This will allow staffing to be based on factual information.
Enclosed, please find recommended standardized
definitions, minimal ratios and related information. We look forward to discussing our proposal with the Department.
Thank you for your consideration of our proposal.
Sincerely,
C. Duane Dauner
President
California Hospital Association
Patricia McFarland, MS, RN
Executive Director
Association of California Nurse Leaders
CDD/DFH:jj
Attachments
cc: The Honorable Sheila Kuehl
Susan Kennedy
Diana M. Bontá, R.N., Dr.PH
Gina Henning
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