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Protect Patient Safety

Help Nurses Protect Patient Care!

HB 2059, The Patient Safety Act, will require the Department of Public Health to set a limit on the number of patients a nurse has to care for at one time. This is a common sense solution to a growing health care crisis. For more information on the campaign, click here. This bill need to support from labor and community if we are going to see it pass. We need YOU to send a message our state government by clicking on the link or calling your state senator and letting them know you care about patient safety!

Tell me more

Talking Points

The Problem: Understaffing of Registered Nurses is Dangerous
Understaffing is a part of the health care crisis facing this nation and the state of Massachusetts. As efforts are made to cut costs, staff and patients suffer tremendously. Registered nurses are being forced to care for too many patients at once, and patients endure the consequences in the form of preventable errors, avoidable complications, increased lengths of stay, and readmissions.

The Solution: The Patient Safety Act, House Bill 2059
The Patient Safety Act calls upon the Department of Public Health to set a safe limit on the number of patients a nurse is assigned at one time. In addition, the bill calls for staffing to be adjusted based on patient needs. It also bans mandatory overtime, and includes initiatives to increase nursing faculty andnurse recruitment.

On May 24, 2006 the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a similar bill by a vote of 133-20. To date, 120 health care and consumer advocacy groups have endorsed the bill and joined the Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients. Studies by the most respected medical researchers affirm the significance on patient safety of safe limits on how many patients an RN must care for at one time.

The Facts: Safe Staffing Saves Lives and Protects Patient Safety.

The higher the patient-to-nurse ratio in a hospital, the more likely there will be patient deaths or complications after surgery. Each additional patient over 4 per nurse jeopardizes patient safety substantially (JAMA, Oct. 2002).
There is a 'strong and consistent' link between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes. Improved RN staffing reduces rates of hospital-acquired infections, pneumonia, shock, cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other adverse outcomes (New England Journal of Medicine, May 2002).

Take Action to Protect Patient Safety!

Call your legislators and tell them you want An Act Relative to Patient Safety to ensure the quality of patient care in Massachusetts! Call the House and Senate Switchboard – 617.722.2000 and ask to speak with your Senator today!
Take send a letter to our state leaders to show your support.

For more information on the bill or to find out how you can help go to www.protectmasspatients.org.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]