Jason Greis Published in DePaul Health Law Institute Newsletter

The Spring 2006 issue of the DePaul Health Law Institute Newsletter includes an article by Jason ("Illinois Senate Bill 2270 Proposes the Nation’s Most Rigorous Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios") that notes Illinois will be facing a statewide shortage of 21,000 nurses by 2020 and the growing crisis In Illinois can be attributed to several factors. "First, an increasing number of aging ‘Baby Boomers’ are presenting in hospitals’ emergency departments and intensive care units, thereby forcing an already limited number of nurses to attend to larger patient loads. Additionally, the population of nurses caring for the sick and elderly is also growing older…Finally, increasing patient acuity, decreasing nursing school enrollment and the attraction of less physically and emotionally demanding alternative career choices all exacerbate the growing problem." The Illinois Senate Bill (SB2270) and its Illinois House bill counterpart, HB2548, would create the "Nursing Care and Quality Improvement Act" (the "Act"), and would establish minimum and specific nurse-to-patient ratios for Illinois hospitals. Opponents such as the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) oppose the Act, fearing compliance could cost hospitals an excessive amount of money and lead to layoffs of other ancillary personnel as a result of employing additional nurses to meet the required ratios. The Act is still under consideration and has been referred to a Senate subcommittee. In the event that no significant revisions are made, Illinois hospitals "may face serious challenges in the near future."