BILL REQ. #:  H-1283.1 

Read first time 02/02/2005.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to health care staffing level reporting; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each hospital shall compile and post in a visible and accessible manner and location of the patient care area of each unit of the hospital the following information regarding each unit and shift:
     (a) The number of registered nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to registered nurses;
     (b) The number of licensed practical nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to licensed practical nurses;
     (c) The number of nursing assistants certified or registered under chapter 18.88A RCW providing direct patient care and the ratio of patients to nursing assistants;
     (d) The number of other credentialed health care providers providing direct patient care to meet any state or federal staffing requirements; and
     (e) The methods used by the hospital for determining and adjusting direct patient care staffing levels.
     (2) Each hospital shall compile the monthly averages of the information listed in subsection (1) of this section by unit and shift and report the data to the department every six months at a time and in a manner prescribed by the department. In addition, the hospital shall provide a copy of the report to any member of the public upon request. The department shall compile an annual report of the reports that it receives from each hospital and make the information available to the public.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each nursing home shall compile and post in a visible and accessible manner and location of the residential area information about the number and type of credentialed health care providers who are directly responsible for resident care. The information shall specify the ratio of credentialed health care providers to residents according to each shift.
     (2) Each nursing home shall compile the monthly averages of the information listed in subsection (1) of this section by shift and report it to the department every six months at a time and manner prescribed by the department. In addition, the nursing home shall provide a copy of the report to any member of the public upon request. The department shall compile an annual report of the reports that it receives from each nursing home and make the information available to the public.