California's Safe Staffing Law: How Many Nurses Is Enough?

Hosted by
California hospitals claim that a shortage of nurses may close down entire units, producing back-ups at emergency rooms. The Nurses Association accuses the hospitals of manufacturing a crisis when one doesn-t really exist. It's all about a new law, one that will make California the first state in the nation to require that hospitals maintain specific minimum ratios for registered nurses. Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors asked Governor Schwarzenegger to intervene. We hear from hospitals and nurses in the argument that could effect healthcare in California as soon as January of next year. Making News: Investigating the Farmers' Market Accident Investigation On July 16, 86-year old George Weller drove his car at high speed through the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, killing 10 people and injuring many more. Yesterday, the preliminary investigation by the California Highway Patrol concluded that Weller was responsible. What took them so long? Former LA County Deputy District Attorney Steve Meister says it's a lengthy process to sort through seemingly obvious conclusions and issues of civil and criminal liability. Reporter's Notebook: Grassroots Workshop on Fire Recovery Victims of Southern California-s recent fires don-t have to wait out the inevitable bureaucratic delays of local, state and federal agencies. They can get recovery efforts off the ground by themselves. That's according to Linda Williams, a near victim of the 1993 Altadena fire that claimed nearly 30 homes. Williams, now president of the Pasadena-Glen Improvement Association offers some advice for victims of recent fires.
California hospitals claim that a shortage of nurses may close down entire units, producing back-ups at emergency rooms. The Nurses Association accuses the hospitals of manufacturing a crisis when one doesn-t really exist. It's all about a new law, one that will make California the first state in the nation to require that hospitals maintain specific minimum ratios for registered nurses. Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors asked Governor Schwarzenegger to intervene. We hear from hospitals and nurses in the argument that could effect healthcare in California as soon as January of next year.
  • Making News: Investigating the Farmers' Market Accident Investigation
    On July 16, 86-year old George Weller drove his car at high speed through the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, killing 10 people and injuring many more. Yesterday, the preliminary investigation by the California Highway Patrol concluded that Weller was responsible. What took them so long? Former LA County Deputy District Attorney Steve Meister says it's a lengthy process to sort through seemingly obvious conclusions and issues of civil and criminal liability.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Grassroots Workshop on Fire Recovery
    Victims of Southern California-s recent fires don-t have to wait out the inevitable bureaucratic delays of local, state and federal agencies. They can get recovery efforts off the ground by themselves. That's according to Linda Williams, a near victim of the 1993 Altadena fire that claimed nearly 30 homes. Williams, now president of the Pasadena-Glen Improvement Association offers some advice for victims of recent fires.

Preliminary CHP report (LA Times story)

Safe Staffing Bill (AB 394)

Institute of Medicine's report on patient safety

FireRecovery2003.org

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton