(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Speaker Vincent Prieto, Joseph Lagana, Bob Andrzejczak, Daniel Benson and Vincent Mazzeo to help boost the quality of care delivered to patients at home after they leave the hospital was approved 36-0 on Monday by the Senate.
“The follow-up care required after a hospital stay can be incredibly complicated and overwhelming for the average person,” said Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson). “By having hospitals work cooperatively with a patient’s preferred caregiver, we can ensure that they’re getting the level of care they need from the person they feel most comfortable with.”
The bill (A-2955) would require general acute care hospitals to provide patients and their legal guardians with opportunities to designate a caregiver following the patient’s entry into the hospital.
A caregiver is someone, such as a relative, spouse, partner, friend, or neighbor, who provides after-care assistance to a patient in the patient’s residence. The types of after-care assistance provided may include assisting with basic activities of daily living, assisting with instrumental activities of daily living, and other tasks as determined to be appropriate by the discharging physician or another licensed health care professional.
“Many times, the sensitive nature of a person’s illness makes them inclined to want treatment from somebody they are familiar and comfortable with,” said Lagana (D-Bergen/Passaic). “This bill would help by requiring hospitals to work with the caregiver to prepare them.”
“Follow-up care after a hospital stay can often be long and intense,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “This measure will help ensure that patients are getting the care they need from somebody they know and trust.”
“Many family members or friends, no matter how well-intentioned, are not trained to provide the necessary level of medical care needed after many types of hospital stays,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “This bill will ensure that they’re properly trained while also creating a solid support network to provide consistent follow-up care.”
“Patients receiving at home care must be comfortable with their caregivers,” said Mazzeo (D- Atlantic). “This legislation ensures that whomever they choose as a caregiver will be given the proper training and support to do the job.”
The measure was approved 73-0-3 by the Assembly in May, but now must be reconsidered by the house after recent amendments were made to the bill.
