HOSPITAL-NURSING HOME-PATIENTS

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act, the University of Illinois Hospital Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, and the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that a hospital or nursing home shall adopt a policy to identify, assess, and develop strategies to control risk of injury to residents or patients and nurses and other health care workers associated with the lifting, transferring, repositioning, or movement of a resident or patient. Sets forth matters that must be included in the policy, including: (1) analysis of the risk of injury to residents or patients and nurses and other health care workers posted by the resident or patient handling needs of the resident or patient populations served by the facility and the physical environment in which the resident or patient handling and movement occurs; (2) education of nurses in the identification, assessment, and control of risks of injury to residents or patients and nurses and other health care workers during resident or patient handling; and (3) evaluation of alternative ways to reduce risks associated with resident or patient handling, including evaluation of equipment and the environment. Requires that Department of Human Services-operated State mental health centers and developmental centers and the University of Illinois Hospital comply with these provisions. Effective January 1, 2010.