WSHA invites you to a webinar on SB 5236 – the hospital staffing compromise law of 2023 – from 12-1 p.m. Monday, June 12. The webinar will feature an overview of the law from WSHA staff involved in its development and cover WSHA’s implementation efforts. Please register here ahead of the webinar. After your registration is approved, you will receive a unique Zoom link to join the webinar.
WSHA Speakers include:
- Cassie Sauer, CEO
- Chelene Whiteaker, SVP, Government Affairs
- Ashlen Strong, Senior Director, Government Affairs
- Darcy Jaffe, SVP, Safety and Quality
Background:
The 2023 legislative session saw the introduction of legislation (SB 5236) to implement strict, statewide, mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios determined by the Department of Labor and Industries and a cap on mandatory prescheduled on-call of 60 hours per month. Both of these would have resulted in a reduction of access to hospital services in some communities. WSHA spent months negotiating this bill with unions, legislative sponsors and state agencies. In the end, WSHA was able to support a compromise version of the bill that does not include ratios or the on-call cap.
Instead, the final version of SB 5236 builds upon Washington’s existing hospital staffing laws, requiring hospitals to report on compliance with staffing plans developed by hospital staffing committees and the uninterrupted meal and rest breaks law. The new law also changes the way hospital staffing committees operate and adds new enforcement mechanisms for various staffing laws.
Please contact Ashlen Strong (AshlenS@WSHA.org) with questions about the webinar, and for any questions about registration please contact Marli Diestel (MarliD@WSHA.org) for assistance. (Ashlen Strong)
