Geriatric health care bill expected
Officials at Mercy Health System in Janesville are watching a bill from U.S. Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin closely.
Mercy Vice President Rich Gruber indicates a great deal of support for Kohl's bill to improve training opportunities for geriatric health care workers. Kohl's bill incorporates the major recommendations for improving and expanding the skills and preparedness of the health care workforce as outlined in an Institute of Medicine report titled "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce." The bill includes support for expanding geriatric nursing education programs, increasing training for personal and home care aids, and funding geriatric education center grants. Gruber says Mercy already has a Geriatric Specialty Center, and proactively recruits professional workers.
Gruber says Kohl's bill highlights the growing need for more health care professionals in this area because currently fewer than 1% of all nurses are certified gerontological nurses, while the population needing care is expected to double by 2030.
related STORIES
Jan 2, 2009 at 6:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
We also need more and better paid nurse's aids. I know some people, who have done it, that had to leave it because it pays little and demands so much physically. What can we do to keep kind people doing this very hard job?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.