Advocate nurses travel to State Capitol for Advocacy Day
In May, 25 Advocate nurses clad in purple t-shirts bearing the slogan “Advocate nurses. 7,000 strong,” traveled to the State Capitol in Springfield to meet with nine state senators and 13 state representatives at the first annual Nurse Advocacy Day sponsored by Advocate’s Nurse Advocacy Council (NAC).
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Advocate nurses travel to State Capitol for Advocacy Day
In May, 25 Advocate nurses clad in purple t-shirts bearing the slogan “Advocate nurses. 7,000 strong,” traveled to the State Capitol in Springfield to meet with nine state senators and 13 state representatives at the first annual Nurse Advocacy Day sponsored by Advocate’s Nurse Advocacy Council (NAC).

Council members and other nurses from each Advocate hospital made the trip to the State Capitol to urge legislators to protect patient safety and nursing autonomy. They sought support for nurse staffing by patient acuity instead of rigid mandated nurse staffing ratios. “It was a very empowering day!” said Kandi Vancura, NAC president and nurse at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.

The Nurse Advocacy Council, a self-governed body comprised entirely of frontline nurses from each Advocate site, voted to oppose mandated nurse staffing ratios earlier in the year and some members of the council even traveled to Springfield to testify at a committee hearing on the bill. However, the NAC members wanted to do more. They encouraged other

Advocate nurses to travel with them to Springfield to meet directly with legislators and provide personal testimony on the consequences of mandated staffing ratios.

The nurses also expressed support for the extension of the Nurse Practice Act and the passage of a supplemental appropriation including $1.2 billion in overdue Medicaid payments to hospitals. “The day in Springfield helped motivate me to continue my efforts in guiding government officials on the decisions that affect nurses daily,” said Laura Sasicki, a nurse for Advocate Home Health.

The nurses’ efforts paid off when all three bills supported by the Nurse Advocacy Council were passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor into law later this year.

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U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announces MOTHERS Act at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) visited Good Samaritan Hospital’s Women’s and Infants’ Center as he announced the Mom’s Opportunity to Access Help, Education, Research and Support for Postpartum Depression legislation, or MOTHERS Act.
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U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announces MOTHERS Act at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) visited Good Samaritan Hospital’s Women’s and Infants’ Center as he announced the Mom’s Opportunity to Access Help, Education, Research and Support for Postpartum Depression legislation, or MOTHERS Act. This legislation proposes to help new moms by providing education and screening on postpartum depression (PPD) that can lead to early identification and treatment. Advocate also supports similar legislation in the House of Representatives introduced by Representative Bobby Rush.

During Senator Durbin’s visit, he spoke with patients, nurses, doctors and administrators about the seriousness of postpartum depression and efforts to remove the negative stigma that still surrounds the condition. Each year, more than half of the women who have recently given birth suffer from postpartum mood changes. Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is one of only a handful of area hospitals that provide a PPD screening to new moms.

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Springfield Struggles with key funding issues
Springfield Struggles with key funding issues State government leaders faced many challenges this year to come to terms on a budget, determine spending priorities and address critical funding shortfalls.
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Springfield Struggles with key funding issues
Springfield Struggles with key funding issues State government leaders faced many challenges this year to come to terms on a budget, determine spending priorities and address critical funding shortfalls. This historic stalemate continues to extend the 2007 legislative session and many important issues remain unresolved.

To date, the Illinois General Assembly has considered legislation that would impact various areas of Advocate's health care delivery network. The Advocate Government Relations team supported legislative efforts such as: nurse staffing requirements by patient acuity; the extension of the Illinois Planning Act and creation of a reform task force for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board; and funding for hospitals through the Hospital Assessment Program. Advocate also actively worked against legislation that was not in the best interests of our patients, associates or sites of care, such as mandated Medicaid managed care programs and nurse staffing ratios.

Advocate leadership appreciates the dedication state officials have displayed through this controversial legislative session. As we look forward to next year's legislative priorities, Advocate associates will continue to work closely with members of the General Assembly to support sound health care policy proposals while advocating for critical issues such as full Medicaid funding, increased access to care and a new Hospital Assessment Program.

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