Healthcare workers from across the state convened inside the Illinois State Capitol, rallying support for legislation aimed at shoring up hospital staff levels and improving safety conditions on Thursday. Clad in the purple and gold colors of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois, these advocates voiced concerns over chronic understaffing and its dire effects on patient care.
At the epicenter of this outcry was Kim Smith, a patient care technician cited by The Chicago Tribune, who drew attention to the perilous situations care workers face, saying, "When I walk into a hospital and I’m given 36 patients and I'm the only tech on that floor, there's no way I can deliver good care." Echoing her distress, according to WAND-TV, Smith recalled how she had to assume the role of caregiver during her daughter's C-section due to understaffing, rather than just being a supportive mother and grandmother.
Campaigning for the Hospital Worker Safety Bill (SB 3424/HB 5320), proponents argue for a process that allows workers to address unsafe working conditions while holding management accountable. Touted by State Sen. Christopher Belt and Sen. Lakesia Collins, themselves bill sponsors, the proposed legislation includes annual staffing statistics publications by hospitals, the creation of a "hospital safety advocate", and implementation of a "Nurse Staffing Advisory Board".
Workers shared compelling testimonies about being left in harm's way with patients due to inadequate staffing. Anne Igoe, Vice President of the Health Systems Division at SEIU Healthcare Illinois, charged healthcare systems with reducing critical staff long before COVID-19, leading to burnout among healthcare professionals who began their careers with zeal to care for others. As stated by Igoe in an interview with WAND-TV, "We work in these hospitals, we live in these communities, and we demand better service within this industry as a whole."
Hospitals, particularly those serving low-income areas, face increased pressure to reduce services crucial to local communities. In a statement given to The Chicago Tribune, SEIU Healthcare articulated the stark impact of understaffing, highlighting racial disparities in health care access with a determined tone, advocating for equitable funding and staffing to support, and value hospital workers regardless of location.
Meanwhile, the response from hospital administrations to these claims varies. Touchette Regional Hospital's interim president Brad Solberg responded to concerns about workplace violence injuries due to understaffing, confirming their commitment to safety, and noting a significant reduction in incidents over recent months.
