The Need for Higher Minimum Staffing Standards in U.S. Nursing Homes
نویسندگان
چکیده
Many U.S. nursing homes have serious quality problems, in part, because of inadequate levels of nurse staffing. This commentary focuses on two issues. First, there is a need for higher minimum nurse staffing standards for U.S. nursing homes based on multiple research studies showing a positive relationship between nursing home quality and staffing and the benefits of implementing higher minimum staffing standards. Studies have identified the minimum staffing levels necessary to provide care consistent with the federal regulations, but many U.S. facilities have dangerously low staffing. Second, the barriers to staffing reform are discussed. These include economic concerns about costs and a focus on financial incentives. The enforcement of existing staffing standards has been weak, and strong nursing home industry political opposition has limited efforts to establish higher standards. Researchers should study the ways to improve staffing standards and new payment, regulatory, and political strategies to improve nursing home staffing and quality.
منابع مشابه
Nursing home staffing standards: their relationship to nurse staffing levels.
PURPOSE This study reviews staffing standards from the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine if these standards are related to nursing home staffing levels. DESIGN AND METHODS Rules and regulations for states' nursing home staffing standards were obtained for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nurse staffing data were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ...
متن کاملA panel data analysis of the relationships of nursing home staffing levels and standards to regulatory deficiencies.
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationships between nursing staffing levels and nursing home deficiencies. METHODS This panel data analysis employed random-effect models that adjusted for unobserved, nursing home-specific heterogeneity over time. Data were obtained from California's long-term care annual cost report data and the Automated Certification and Licensing Administrative Information and ...
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متن کامل
Registered nurse staffing mix and quality of care in nursing homes: a longitudinal analysis.
PURPOSE To examine the relationship between registered nurse (RN) staffing mix and quality of nursing home care measured by regulatory violations. DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective panel data study (1999-2003) of 2 groups of California freestanding nursing homes. One group was 201 nursing homes that consistently met the state's minimum standard for total nurse staffing level over the 5-year ...
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