Marti Smith: California’s Safe Lift Bill

10/29/13 • 9 min

Safe Lift Bill We’ll also visit with Marti Smith, RN Government Relations Lead for the California Nurses Association. Marti will talk about why hospitals are not complying with California’s Safe Lift Bill (AB 1136) passed in January of 2012. Is this something we non-medical people should be concerned about? YES! Trust us when we say you do not want to be dropped on your next hospital visit! Is this possible? Yes, indeed, so stick around and find out why you should know about your neighborhood hospital’s “safe lift” policy. Read more...

Previous Episode

Hospital Corps & the ACA, a Learning Moment, and Get a Horse.

A look at the concerns about The Affordable Care Act from those who work for hospital corps. This week Michael Lighty, Director of Public Policy for California Nurses Association, joins us to talk about why he thinks the Affordable Care Act is “Bad Medicine” for nurses. The article, “Bad Medicine” recently appeared in the National Nurse Magazine and states, “...the biggest health reform of our lifetime does little to rein in healthcare corporations and insurers. Instead, it shifts even more in costs onto workers who can’t afford it and, at the same time, threatens the practice of registered nursing.” Professor Shayne! Nurses, we may send you mixed messages from time to time but now is (honestly) a great time to consider getting a master’s degree. And we have the best program in the nation (maybe we are prejudice since our co-host Shayne Mason just happens to be an instructor) to share with you. Read more...

Next Episode

Best Of: What Would Florence Think?, $11.2 Billion Surprise, ACA and Mental Health Coverage.

Nursing Without Borders This week we take on a controversial issue, and in doing so we learn ALOT (as if that never happens!). Healthcare Journalist Heather Boerner joins us to talk about an article she recently wrote for National Nurses United Magazine. The article, “Nursing Without Borders,” provides an in-depth look at the unique factors at play in providing the best care for undocumented patients. Ms. Boerner interviews undocumented families who do their best to stay off the radar for fear of being deported and therefore do not often seek medical treatment. AND here is a statistic that will surprise most of us: Contrary to what the politicians and others tell us, according to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented workers (in 2010) paid about $11.2 billion in state, local, and sales taxes, yet they do not qualify for healthcare services. How do nurses and other healthcare workers deal with this issue? Read more...