House Bill 822, Medication Technicians in Long Term Care,
On Second Reading at the State Capitol

Bill Frees-Up Seven Nursing Hours Per Day for Direct Resident Care;
Builds Career Ladder for Nurse Aides

Chicago) – House Bill 822, Medication Technicians in Long Term Care, has passed out of the House Human Services Committee and is receiving second reading by the Illinois House of Representatives. The bill establishes a Medication Technician Program in Illinois, training certified and experienced nursing assistants to pass out routine medications in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Ultimately, the bill will improve hands-on care by professional nurses for the thousands of frail and elderly citizens who live in Illinois’ long-term care facilities.

On average, HB 822 will free-up 49 nursing hours per week at an Illinois long-term care facility for professional nurses to give hands-on resident care. Sponsored by Representative Eddie Washington, D-60, Waukegan, the bill allows licensed nurses more time to devote to other professional duties other than passing routine medications, such as resident assessment and treatment.

"As a result of this legislation, nurses will be able to spend more time evaluating resident conditions, addressing chronic pain and reducing falls," states Susan Duda Gardiner, director of clinical services for the Illinois Council on Long Term Care. "This legislation will enable nurses to devote more time to performing duties that require their level of education, skill and professional abilities, enhancing the quality of care for thousands of elderly individuals."

The Medication Technician Program also creates a professional career ladder for certified nurse aides to enter into a career in nursing. The goal is for the program’s coursework to be applied toward the required curriculum for becoming a licensed nurse. Because many nurse aides have aspirations for becoming nurses, this program provides them an important bridge for achieving their goals.

Through House Bill 822, Certified Nursing Assistants would have to pass a state-approved training certification course of at least 100 hours; pass a certified examination approved by Illinois Department of Public Health; and have 16 hours of continuing education over a two-year period in order to renew their certification.

Medication technicians would only administer routine medications under the supervision of a licensed nurse. They would not administer narcotics; any medications injected into the skin, the muscles or the veins; or any medications injected into a tube. Any requests that residents would have for medications other than their routine ones would always go through a physician and a nurse (such as a request for pain medication).

Sixteen states employ medication technicians in nursing homes, including the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. At least 30 other states currently employ medication technicians to administer routine medications in assisted living facilities.

"The persons who will benefit most from this legislation will be the residents themselves," said Carol Krueger, director of clinical services for Platinum Health Care. "With this program, nurses will have more time to complete their assessments, talk with the doctors, conduct their treatments and interact with the residents. This program eliminates a major time obstacle that makes it challenging for a nurse to provide thorough, attentive and compassionate care at the bedsides of residents. It’s a `win-win’ program for Illinois’ long term care community."

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The Illinois Council on Long Term Care is a professional association of nearly 200 nursing facilities committed to quality residential health care in Illinois through a productive and responsible partnership between the private and public sectors. The Council represents more than 26,000 nursing home professionals serving more than 37,000 residents. More information about Illinois nursing homes can be found at www.nursinghome.org.