Nurse ratio study worries hospitals
Ryan Carter
Hospital labor and consumer advocates are touting a new report that
says bolstered nursing-to-patient ratios will prevent deaths and
lessen the risk of medical errors, particularly in the treatment of a
local aging population. But locally, hospital administrators are
skeptical.
The report, sponsored by Hospital Watch, an alliance that includes
senior groups, unions and nurses, said patients older than 65 would
benefit from a new law requiring minimum nurse-to-staff ratios at
hospitals in the state by Jan. 1.
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital,
Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Verdugo Hills Hospital treat a
high volume of the county’s seniors, according to 2002
patient-discharge data from the California Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development.
“They are trying to find every avenue to support their position,”
said Karen Kneuven, vice president of care services at Verdugo Hills
Hospital. “I think it’s union driven.”
Kneuven and other local hospital representatives said that they
have worked since 1999 to hire new nurses to meet the ratios. But
they are concerned about being able to adhere to the law 100% of the
time. And hospital officials said they are concerned about a nursing
shortage.
“Meeting the new state mandates will be challenging, especially if
there is a large influx of patients,” said Sharon Gerson, director of
patient care services at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. “For
example, a severe flu season could mean a large number of patients
will seek care at our emergency department all at once.”
But representatives who helped put out the report said the ratios
are necessary because they will create better working conditions and
save lives.
“To know that in Los Angeles County more than 3,000 lives can be
saved is very significant for the senior population,” said Susan
Fogel, an attorney who works with Service Employees International
Union and Hospital Watch.
The report cites recent published research that concludes a
patient’s risk of dying increases when the nurse-to-patient ratio
goes up, Fogel said.
The new ratios will bolster care mainly at cardiac and
post-operative care units, which, according to Hospital Watch,
provide the most care to seniors.
Based on other reports linking low numbers of hospital staffing to
patient deaths, the report concludes that the staffing law could save
the lives of 3,000 patients 65 and older in the first 18 months of
the law’s life.
For instance, medical telemetry units will be required to carry
one nurse for every five patients by January and one nurse to every
four patients by 2008. The ratios apply to everything from critical
care and perinatal services to psychiatric units. Emergency rooms
will be required to have one nurse for every four patients.