A.V. HOSPITALS AT OR NEAR NEW NURSING RATIOS GUIDELINES TAKE EFFECT JAN. 1.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The two hospitals in the Antelope Valley are already in compliance with or close to meeting new nurse-to-patient staffing ratios proposed by the state, the first of their kind in the nation.

Lancaster Community Hospital officials say they are already in compliance with the new guidelines, which will be phased in starting in 2004, and officials at Antelope Valley Hospital said they are almost in complete compliance.

``We were pretty much aware of these requirements beforehand, and at this point we've already made plans in the new budget year to make sure they are implemented,'' said Bonnie Daniel, vice president of nursing at Antelope Valley Hospital.

Lancaster Community Hospital Chief Nurse Executive Judy White said the hospital spent $500,000 to meet the new ratios.

``As of Jan. 1 of this year, we set the staffing guidelines for our nursing care department to fall within those recommended ratios. We are already budgeted for these ratios,'' White said. ``The current nursing shortage, of course, causes occasional challenges with our staffing, but we are determined to comply with these ratios.''

Currently, the state sets nurse-to-patient ratios for intensive and critical care units, operating rooms, nurseries, neonatal intensive care units, coronary care units and acute respiratory care wards.

The new regulations will expand the required ratios to the rest of the hospital.

The proposed ratios range from 1 to 1 for critical care trauma patients to 1 to 6 initially in medical-surgical wards, then to 1 to 5 in 2005.

In some other units, such as specialty care oncology units, the staffing ratio will be one nurse for every five patients, and then be lowered to one for every four patients in 2008.

The state Department of Health Services estimates the new ratios will cost California hospitals $422 million in 2004, $652 million in 2005, and about $956 million in 2008, when all the ratios be in effect, said Lea Brooks, a department spokeswoman.

The proposed ratios were revealed last week for public comment, the period for which will end July 17, Brooks said. Barring any further changes, the ratios will start to take effect Jan. 1.

The regulations stem from a 1999 law that made California the first state in the nation to mandate nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals.

``The high interest in this issue is reflected in the fact that (the state Health Department) received more than 24,000 letters from organizations and individuals across the state during the initial public comment period,'' state Health Director Diana M. Bonta said in a statement.

``In signing the legislation that led to the development of these ratios, Gov. Gray Davis demonstrated his commitment to quality patient care and recognition of the key role nurses play in providing that care,'' Bonta said.