Bill 4295

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4295
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19970604
Primary Sponsor:                Neilson
All Sponsors:                   Neilson, Stuart and Rhoad 
Drafted Document Number:        psd\7421ac.97
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980217
Date of Last Amendment:         19980129
Subject:                        Area Health Education Consortium,
                                to conduct needs assessment of nurses
                                aides in residential care facilities;
                                Nursing

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19980217  Received from Senate
Senate  19980217  Adopted, returned to House
                  with concurrence
Senate  19980212  Committee report: Favorable              13 SMA
Senate  19980203  Introduced, referred to Committee        13 SMA
House   19980129  Amended, adopted, sent to Senate
House   19980128  Committee report: Favorable with         27 H3M
                  amendment
House   19970604  Introduced, referred to Committee        27 H3M

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 12, 1998

H. 4295

S. Printed 2/12/98--S.

Read the first time February 3, 1998.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4295), requesting the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium in conducting its statewide needs assessment, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

THOMAS L. MOORE, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CONSORTIUM IN CONDUCTING ITS STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF ALL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS OF THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF NURSES AIDES IN SOUTH CAROLINA NURSING HOMES AND TO REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1998.

Whereas, eighty percent of care in nursing homes is provided by nurses aides, and turnover rates for nursing aides in long term care are as high as one hundred percent in a two-year period;

Whereas, nurses aides are serving sicker and more severely handicapped patients due to the trend to keep patients at home and served by home and community health services as long as possible and;

Whereas, long term care facilities have great difficulty in finding nurses aides to fill openings;

Whereas, care for advanced dementia patients is difficult and poorly rewarded;

Whereas, increased workloads in long term care are demanding more health providers;

Whereas, our single elderly often have only their personal care nurses aides to depend on, as families are often not available;

Whereas, the pay scale for nursing aides is comparable to unskilled fast food workers;

Whereas, South Carolina's aging population is growing and will continue to increase as the baby boomers approach the ranks of senior citizens; and

Whereas, South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC) is currently involved in a statewide health profession needs assessment of all health professionals including licensed and unlicensed providers under an enhanced AHEC contract. The health profession planning under the enhanced contract will focus on health care skills and competencies to serve the population in critical areas of health needs which include geriatric care. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That by this resolution, the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina requests the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium, in conducting its statewide needs assessment of all health professionals, to examine the problem of recruitment and retention of nurses aides in South Carolina nursing homes and to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly before January 1, 1999.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium.