New bill aims to require hospitals to make staff levels public.
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New bill aims to require hospitals to make staff levels public.

Date: February 17, 2009
By: Chance Seales
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB229

Intro: Missouri hospitals would have to publicly report who is treating patients if a measure makes its way through the legislature.

Chance Seales (SEALS) reports from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:38
OutCue: SOC

A St. Louis lawmaker says she wants patients and their families to know when their hospital is understaffed.

Senator Joan Bray is the bill's sponsor and says forcing hospitals to publicly report the staff on each floor is essential to keeping patients safe.

Actuality:  JBRA1.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: "Long term, we want to make sure that hospitals are attentive to the fact that they have to make public what they're staffing is and...to what degree they have people to take care of their patients."

A Kansas City nurse expressed concern that ICU nurses are often assigned three patients, with others caring for up to ten. 

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Chance Seales.

Intro: Missouri families will get more information about who's treating their loved ones if a new Senate bill passes.

Chance Seales (SEALS) reports from the State Capitol.

RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

Democratic St. Louis County Senator Joan Bray's bill addresses patient concerns that Missouri hospitals are understaffed with overworked nurses.

Witnesses told the Senate Health Committee ICU nurses find themselves responsible for three patients, with others caring for up to ten.

Republican Senator Jane Cunningham said she hasn't received any complaints from her district and isn't sold on a need for new requirements.

Actuality:  JCUN1.WAV
Run Time: 00:06
Description: "Nobody identified what the problem was even though I asked.  And so I guess my question is, 'What's the problem?'"

If the bill passes, Missouri hospitals will have to post a list for everyone to see what staff is working each floor.  

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Chance Seales.