Hospital Patients Could Benefit from Family Members as Health Care Advocates Under Corrado Legislation

Senator Kristin Corrado will introduce legislation that will improve communication between hospital patients, family members, and health care workers overburdened by the pandemic.

“Hospitals have been getting slammed with Covid, and policies at some facilities are making it difficult for the families of patients to get information and participate in the care of their loved ones,” said Corrado (R-40).

Corrado’s bill would require hospitals to allow a designated family member to act as the patient’s health care advocate during any hospital admittance.

“Recently, I heard from a distraught constituent whose family member had been hospitalized. The condition made it impossible for the patient to interact with caregivers, creating stress and anxiety for everyone involved.”

The bill will emulate a law enacted in May 2020 in response to Covid-related policies at some hospitals that prevented fathers or companions from accompanying mothers-to-be before and after delivery.

“This legislation will help ensure better experiences and better health outcomes by making things easier for patients, families and the doctors, nurses and hospital workers responsible for the care,” Corrado said. “It is critical that policies serve the varied interests of patients and consider the challenges faced by health care professionals.”

Corrado noted her legislation is particularly relevant considering Governor Murphy’s mandate, announced yesterday, that health care workers must be vaccinated and boosted or face termination.

“Hospital nurses, especially, are already stretched thin under the crush of Covid patients,” Corrado noted. “There are staffing shortages and morale is low after bearing the pandemic burden for two years. Murphy’s mandate will only make things worse by benching medical professionals when they are needed the most.

“The patient advocates that would be created by this legislation could end up providing as much relief for the hospital staff as they will for their loved ones.”