A new law in New York State will require nursing homes, hospitals, and diagnostic and treatment centers to publicly disclose staffing information beginning March 16, 2010.

As a result of the Nursing Care Quality Protection Act, which Gov. David Paterson (D) signed on September 16, patients and families will be able to review the staff-patient ratios on units and shifts in those health care facilities. Consumers will also be able to find out how the facilities determine direct-care staffing.

The law — championed by the New York State Nurses Association, PHI, and other health advocates — requires that hospitals report:

• The numbers of RNs and LPNs providing direct care as well as the ratio of patients to nurses;
• The number of unlicensed personnel providing direct care;
• The incidence of adverse patient events such as medication errors and injuries; and
• The methods used for determining and adjusting staffing levels.

“Studies have confirmed that quality of care correlates directly with staff-patient ratio,” says Carol Rodat, PHI New York Policy Director. “This is a great step forward for New York patients, and their families and friends, who want to make an informed decision about getting optimal nursing home and hospital care.”

Many studies have shown that higher nurse staffing is associated with lower rates of infection, cardiac arrest, and other complications.

State Senator Thomas K. Duane (D-Manhattan) and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) sponsored the bill, which was passed in the New York State Assembly on April 1 and in the Senate on July 16.

The bill was opposed by the Healthcare Association of New York State and the New York Organization of Nurse Executives. The latter group claims that staff-patient ratio data is meaningless for comparing facilities because the variables related to patient needs and caregiver competencies are too complex.