Are Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's Nurse Staffing Levels Predictors to Negative Patient Outcomes?
Abstract
As the use of managed care companies expands and Medicare reimbursements are reduced, organizations seek various ways to reduce costs on inpatient wards. Many health care organizations have chosen to increase the use of unlicensed assistive personnel in lieu of registered nurses on inpatient wards. This has lead professional nursing organizations to express concerns that patient safety was being compromised and patient care quality was diminishing in an effort to cut cost. Upon review of a 13-month period of admissions at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, it is concluded that staffing levels had very little effect on patient outcomes that are considered nursing staff level sensitive. Though more detailed research is needed, it is believe that, in these cases, the patients would have developed the ensuing negative outcomes regardless of the level of nursing staff afforded them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA420900
Entities
People
- David A. Johnson
Organizations
- Academy of Health Sciences