Hospital safety bills eyed in session

By David McGrath Schwartz (contact) Saturday 4 June 2011 | 2: 02.

Carson City – perhaps the most important sign that opinion has shifted on patients can be trusted with the information about the Nevada hospital security records: The Nevada Hospital Association and the Nevada State Medical Association supported bills that require such disclosure during the 2011 term.

Nevada health care community know "it's a national trend. They know that it would come, "said Bill Welch, CEO of the Association of hospital.

In fact, bills that have passed or be likely to pass through 2011 legislature will give consumers better information in selecting hospitals by giving them access to the facilities is preventable infections and other injuries, safety advocates say.

When consumers begin to choose hospitals based on security, said it will create competition to improve their safety records, State Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.

"We know that we are making significant progress on health and openness," said Bobbette Bond, Executive Director of the Group of Nevada health care. "These will provide better information to consumers to make choices."

Sentinel events-unexpected events in hospitals which causes harm or the risk thereof – are currently reported to the general public who became total, making it useless for consumers who want to compare facilities records. The legislation would require incidents reported by the facility and hospital, and made available for public scrutiny on a State Web site.

Not everything was a victory. Certain legislative proposals would have required nursing homes public reporting incidents. They were taken out of the legislation after the State said it would require more staff time. -There is something to work with the next session, said Leslie.

The Bills were prompted by the Las Vegas Sun's series of "Do no harm," which analyzed hospital billing records on file with the State, to find that patients in 2008 and 2009 were preventing damage, life-threatening infections or other damage 969 times in Las Vegas hospital. In that time, infected patients even with two kinds of lethal, drug-resistant "superbugs" in area hospitals 2,005 times.

The series received many awards, including being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the highest honor, the journalistiks.

Here is the status of the four legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the health and transparency:

• Senate Bill 209: requires the State Health Division publishes annual reports on its website comparing the "sentinel events" in a hospital in Clark and Washoe County. The Bill defines a sentinel event as a "facility-acquired infection, death or serious physical or mental injury to unexpected events." Status: signed by Governor.

• Senate Bill 264: should also require that the State report sentinel chickens events of the plant. But that would require reporting of readmission patients on readmission was potentially preventable and related to the first entry and residence. The money through administrative penalties could be used for training to improve the quality of care. Status: in Conference Committee between the Assembly and Senate.

• Senate Bill 338: requires every medical facility and nursing homes that care for 25 or more patients reporting sentinel chickens events to a Center for disease control and prevention programmes. The State Health Division would be required to access and publish this information on all medical facilities after 15 October, and nursing homes on 1 January. The reports would allow comparisons between plants. Status: is considered by the Senate. would have to pass through the Assembly.

• Senate Bill 342: requires doctors to inform patients of infections acquired in hospitals. The law requires that patients or their families or guardians, to know within five days. There are exceptions, such as when a patient is left or suicidal. Status: awaiting Governor's signature.

• Senate Bill 340: hospital and body cage surgical resources would be required to report the names of doctors performing surgical procedures and information on these procedures. It would be a step towards linking doctors to potential medical complications. Status: passed the Senate. require the approval of the Assembly.

Legislature passes other bills in the shadow of the budget

By Cy Ryan (contact) Saturday 4 June 2011 | clock 1: 55 Mike McGinness Elizabeth Halseth

CARSON CITY — the focus of 2011 legislature has been on the money, or lack of it.

Other issues, but makes the news: the use of mobile phones while driving, smoking taverns, homeowner associations and protecting transgender persons.

State plans to reduce the interest it pays companies for overcollection or illegal collection of taxes from 6% to 3%. But the interest of the State on late payments will be reduced from 1% to 0,75%.

In his last days put the final touches on the legislature many bills that would affect the average Nevadans. But some would not survive before lawmakers break Monday.

"They will not be able to run with their mobile phones," said Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness, R Fallon. "That hits home most."

The elder Elizabeth Halseth, R-Las Vegas agreed that the public protect their mobile phones but cares less about teacher tenure or taxes.

The Bill prohibits drivers from texting or talking while holding a mobile phone. It is in force in January, when the said offence will be a misdemeanor. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers can issue warnings.

Not resolved, the debate over change on smoking law so food can be served in restaurants where smoking is allowed.

Legislation was enacted to prohibit discrimination against transgender persons in housing, employment and public accommodations. -This is very important to a certain part of our society, "said Sen. Dave Parker, D-Las Vegas. He estimated that as many as 25,000 transgender population in Nevada, United States.

Parker shared an e-mail from Las Vegas resident who said the legislation will help people live a normal life.

Legislation was also adopted that gambling on hotel rooms. Lee Amaitis, President of Cantor Gaming in Las Vegas, said studies have shown no 1 location where customers want mobile gaming devices are in their rooms.

"Given the current world on-demand technology, this was not a surprise," he said.

Members of homeowner associations obtained additional rights, such as permission to inspect the Association books provided by the Board of Directors meetings.

A battle continues over whether interest should be limited to homeowners as late fees.

Lawmakers are working on a Bill to restore habitats like wild animals. Charges of $ 3 on hunting, trapping and fishing licenses would increase to $ 5 for residents and $ 10 for nonresidents. Gov. Brian Sandoval is against increasing fees.

Budgetary decisions will eventually trickle down to the classroom, which increases their number of students. In Clark County, there will be fewer specialists including intermediaries in special education, Swedish as a second language, computer strategy and literary courses.

Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent of the Clark County School District said specialities can be reduced 25 percent, and foreign language courses can be eliminated in some schools.

Session 2011 BOMs can also affect the future.

One measure would permit fees charged for new privately financed roads. The Bill seeks to allow private funding to be collected to build a bypass around Boulder City that supporters say could result in 14,000 jobs.

Where are the hospital security disclosure bills during the term of Office?

By David McGrath Schwartz (contact) Saturday 4 June 2011 | 2 Sam Morris a.m. President and CEO of the Nevada Hospital Association Bill Welch responds to a question during a meeting in Nevada's legal Committee on health care Tuesday 20 July, 2010. Sheila Leslie

CARSON CITY – perhaps the most important sign that opinion has shifted on whether patients should know more about Nevada hospital security records: The Nevada Hospital Association and the Nevada State Medical Association supported bills that require such disclosure during the 2011 term.

Nevada health care community know "it's a national trend. They know that it would come, "said Bill Welch, CEO of the Association of hospital.

In fact, bills that have passed or be likely to pass through 2011 legislature will give consumers better information in selecting hospitals by giving them access to the facilities is preventable infections and other injuries, safety advocates say.

When consumers begin to choose hospitals based on security, said it will create competition to improve their safety records, State Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.

"We know that we are making significant progress on health and openness," said Bobbette Bond, Executive Director of the Group of Nevada health care. "These will provide better information to consumers to make choices."

Sentinel events-unexpected events in hospitals which causes harm or the risk thereof – are currently reported to the general public who became total, making it useless for consumers who want to compare facilities records. The legislation would require incidents reported by the facility and hospital, and made available for public scrutiny on a State Web site.

Not everything was a victory. Certain legislative proposals would have required nursing homes public reporting incidents. They were taken out of the legislation after the State said it would require more staff time. -There is something to work with the next session, said Leslie.

The Bills were prompted by the Las Vegas Sun's series of "Do no harm," which analyzed hospital billing records on file with the State, to find that patients in 2008 and 2009 were preventing damage, life-threatening infections or other damage 969 times in Las Vegas hospital. In that time, infected patients even with two kinds of lethal, drug-resistant "superbugs" in area hospitals 2,005 times.

The series received many awards, including being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the highest honor, the journalistiks.

Here is the status of the four legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the health and transparency:

• Senate Bill 209: requires the State Health Division publishes annual reports on its website comparing the "sentinel events" in a hospital in Clark and Washoe County. The Bill defines a sentinel event as a "facility-acquired infection, death or serious physical or mental injury to unexpected events." Status: signed by Governor.

• Senate Bill 264: should also require that the State report sentinel chickens events of the plant. But that would require reporting of readmission patients on readmission was potentially preventable and related to the first entry and residence. The money through administrative penalties could be used for training to improve the quality of care. Status: in Conference Committee between the Assembly and Senate.

• Senate Bill 338: requires every medical facility and nursing homes that care for 25 or more patients reporting sentinel chickens events to a Center for disease control and prevention programmes. The State Health Division would be required to access and publish this information on all medical facilities after 15 October, and nursing homes on 1 January. The reports would allow comparisons between plants. Status: is considered by the Senate. would have to pass through the Assembly.

• Senate Bill 342: requires doctors to inform patients of infections acquired in hospitals. The law requires that patients or their families or guardians, to know within five days. There are exceptions, such as when a patient is left or suicidal. Status: awaiting Governor's signature.

• Senate Bill 340: hospital and body cage surgical resources would be required to report the names of doctors performing surgical procedures and information on these procedures. It would be a step towards linking doctors to potential medical complications. Status: passed the Senate. require the approval of the Assembly.