Chapter 081

2009 -- S 0049

Enacted 07/01/09

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CENTER FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Miller, Metts, Perry, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2009

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

 

     CHAPTER 17.23

CENTER FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS

 

     23-17.23-1. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds and declares that:

     (1) There is a growing shortage of qualified nurses and healthcare professionals available

to meet the needs of patients in healthcare facilities in Rhode Island as documented in the report

“Help wanted: The growing crisis in Rhode Island’s nursing workforce” prepared by Rhode

Island shape foundation;

     (2) Healthcare facilities serving the citizens of the state are experiencing increasing

difficulty in attracting nurses to administer to their patients;

     (3) Quality healthcare depends, in part, on the availability of nurses and healthcare

professionals;

     (4) It is in the public interest and essential to the welfare and well-being of the inhabitants

of the state that there be a sufficient number of nurses and healthcare workers in the state to serve

the healthcare needs of patients; and

     (5) It is vital to the welfare of the state’s citizenry that incentives be provided to attract

and retain nurses and healthcare professionals to provide service in healthcare facilities

throughout the state.

 

     23-17.23-2. Center for health professions established. – There is hereby created a

center for health professions under the auspices of the health partnership council of Rhode Island

for the purpose of developing a sufficient, diverse, and well trained healthcare workforce to

ensure the citizens of Rhode Island continue to have access to high quality healthcare.

 

     23-17.23-3. Responsibilities of the center for health professions. (a) The center for

health professions will coordinate, facilitate and communicate statewide efforts to meet supply

and demand needs for Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce. The initial focus for the center shall

include nursing which is experiencing the greatest workforce shortages.

     (b) The center shall further focus on:

     (1) Data collection to support strategic decisions and policy recommendations to measure

and evaluate efforts over time and to certify on an ongoing basis:

     (i) Current health care professions supply and demand;

     (ii) Future supply and demand; and

     (iii) Gap analysis.

     (2) Education and training to ensure Rhode Island’s current education and training

systems have the resources to adequately support workforce demand and establish the centralized

clinical placement registry to move students through the postsecondary education pipeline in an

efficient manner.

     (3) Recruitment to increase the level of awareness and diversity of the healthcare

workforce.

     (4) Research, design and implement creative retention initiatives which will assist the

state of Rhode Island retain its healthcare professionals.

     (c) The center for health professions shall serve as a repository for healthcare workforce

data and provide professional development opportunities and research best practices with the goal

of streamlining both public and private resources and eliminating duplication of effort.

     (d) The center may accept funding that includes, but is not limited to, monetary

contributions, contractual arrangements, in-kind services, federal and state workforce

development appropriated funds, private and public foundation grants and fees for service

products.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC00193

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