STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1444-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 83

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 83 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII TO IMPLEMENT THE "UTILIZATION GUIDE FOR THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION PRINCIPLES FOR SAFE STAFFING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to increase safety in healthcare facilities by requesting the implementation of the "Utilization Guide For The American Nurses Association Principles For Safe Staffing," which provides guidelines for optimal registered-nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure accuracy and reliability in patient safety and treatment.

The Hawaii Nurses' Association supported this concurrent resolution. The Department of Health supported this measure with amendments. The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this concurrent resolution with amendments. The Queen's Medical Center provided comments.

Your Committee finds that there is a fundamental need to protect public health and safety by promoting quality healthcare and improving the delivery of healthcare services to patients in Hawaii's healthcare facilities. However, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations report of 2002 concluded that the lack of direct care provided by registered nurses contributed to nearly a quarter of the unanticipated problems that resulted in injury or death to hospital patients. Therefore, establishing standards for direct-care, registered-nurse-to-patient ratios that take into account acuity measures based on the American Nurses Association's staffing principles will protect nurses and patients from the possible harmful ramifications of unsafe staffing practices.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 83 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair