2009 ENA Colorado State Council
Legislative Action Committee
If you are interested in information about this committee,
please contact Seleem Choudhury.
The ENA webpage for Colorado legislative action can be found here. - http://capwiz.com/ena/state/main/?state=CO&view=myofficials
Sign up for email alerts from the National ENA Legislative Action Committee - Click here
UPDATE November, 2009
Good evening ENA Colleagues,
It appears that the violence against healthcare employees (specifically ER worker protection bill) is gathering immense momentum. We are gained the support of CHA (Colorado Hospital Association). This is welcome ammunition to our cause.
CO ENA strongly believes that passing this bill will decrease the growing number of violent acts and assaults against our hospital emergency room providers throughout the country. I am hopeful that we can emulate the success with HB 1360 which was enrolled and enacted into law earlier this year by unanimous vote in both Oklahoma Houses.
I am pleased that CHA is involved as this will add significant weight to our cause. I have been advised by our sponsor that now CHA is involved it is possible that CHA may claim creditand that CO ENA may have less influence. Truthfully, I want to see the right thing happen and happen soon therefore we should use any arsenal in our inventory.
CO ENAers I think 2010 will be our year!
Seleem Choudhury
Director of Emergency and Cardiology Services
Parker Adventist Hospital
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard
Parker, CO 80138
Phone 303-269-4045
Fax 303-269-4821
seleemchoudhury@centura.org
Update June 13th, 2009
Dear ENA colleagues,
I am pleased to report that a meeting occurred yesterday with Rep. Michael May (R-CO 44th District). I presented a short PowerPoint outlining the issue with some data that reinforced the issue.This PowerPoint is available to download HERE.
We asked Rep. Michael May to help us with the following;
- A Bill to Consider a Violent Act against a Health Care Worker as an Aggravated Assault
- Change pre-existing criminal code that sets penalties for assault (or equivalent criminal code violation) on a police officer, fireman, or EMSworker; expand the current law by adding the term "health care workers".
He has agreed to look into the matter further and he has assigned a team member to obtain further data including the pros and cons of supporting this piece of legislation.
His main concern is that changing the law to make this felony could impact the financial operations of the state penitentiary. He stated that typically in response to proposed law changes the penitentiary may release a "fiscal note" which is based upon them needing a bigger budget to accommodate a larger influx of prisoners. His team is going to investigate what this cost may be and they may be using data from states that have previously enacted this bill.
I am certain you would agree that this is another positive step forward and I will make sure to keep you all up to date with any future development.
Finally, please do not forget to vote for the 2009 National election ENA board of directors and nominations committee. The deadline is June 12th at 1700 see the ENA website for more information (http://www.ena.org/)
Respectfully,
Seleem Choudhury
Director of Emergency Services
Parker Adventist Hospital
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard
Parker, CO 80138
Phone 303-269-4045
Fax 303-269-4821
Email seleemchoudhury@centura.org
"Support our troops."
Update April 24th, 2009
Dear ENA Colleagues,
We all know that Violence in the workplace is a serious safety and health issue.It has been an important issue for the Emergency Nurses' Association both national and state for several years specifically the risk of workplace violence is a significant occupational hazard facing emergency nurses. Health care organizations must take preventive measures to circumvent workplace violence and ensure the safety of all health care workers, their patients, and visitors. I am pleased to report some progress towards our vision however our roadmap still has many destinations.
We have recently secured the support of a lobbyist group that will advocate on our behalf. The lobbyist group belongs to a high profile hospital organization and presently I am unable to give more than that information. The lobbyist group will be approaching Senator Morse from Colorado Springs who was just made Majority leader as he has demonstrated his ability to advocate for healthcare issues.As stated this is significant progress however we still have some distance to cover until our final goal is realized at having any hospital employee assaulted a felony offence.Today, I am writing to each of you to help move further forward. The lobbyist group is asking that we lay some ground work therefore I am enclosing a letter and a link http://capwiz.com/ena/home/ that will help you identify your representative or senator. Please complete the letter and sign the letter and mail it. The letter will help create familiarity amongst politicians when this issue is discussed. It will help them understand that this situation is not unique for example to Longmont or Denver, it is all over Colorado and that it is also throughout the United States. This will help the politicians and legislators understand that they a truly representing the wishes of their people.As Emergency Nurses we must remember our responsibility as leaders; this requires an eye for change and a steadying hand to provide both vision and reassurance that change can be mastered, a voice that articulates the will of the group and shapes it to constructive ends, and an ability to inspire by force of personality while making others feel empowered to increase and use their own abilities. I truly believe that we can make our own future!Respectfully,
Seleem ChoudhuryPS Instructions on the letter
1. Open template to the right
2. Open link and insert zip code (http://capwiz.com/ena/home/)
3. Copy and paste address into template
4. Print, sign and mail
5. Repeat for Governor, Senator and Representative
6. Forward email to fellow Emergency Department Nurse and ask them to do the same.
UPDATE FEBURARY 2009
UPDATE 10/09/2008
Dear esteemed ENA colleagues,
I have some important news to report.
Firstly, Happy Emergency nurses week!
On Friday, October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that was attached to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 -- the bailout measure for Wall Street firms. President Bush approved the bill soon after the House passed the measure on Friday by a vote of 263 to 171. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday of last week by a vote of 74 to 25.
It was a long time coming -- 7 years -- but the victory is finally here for our patients.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to send a message to their Representatives and Senators.
As Emergency nurses we have again proven our influence and dedication to our patients.
How the U.S. Senators from Colorado voted:
* Sen. Wayne Allard (R) - NO
* Sen. Ken Salazar (D) - YES
Respectfully,
Seleem R Choudhury
UPDATE 7/29/2008
Dear esteemed ENA colleagues,
I have been made aware through the national ENA that The Senate may consider the compromise legislation on mental health parity (S.3335) as early as TOMORROW, Tuesday, July 29. Briefly if mental health parity is not passed this year, there is serious concern that Congress will not take the matter up again for a number of years. Because of this concern, it is vital that mental health parity is passed now.The legislation addresses the discrimination in group health plans against persons with mental health or substance use disorders. This bill would expand the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 by prohibiting group health plans from imposing treatment or financial limitations on mental health benefits that are different from those applied to medical/surgical services. The legislation closes the loopholes that allow discrimination in the co-payment, coinsurance, deductible, maximum out-of-pocket limit and day and visit limits. It applies only to group health plans already providing mental health benefits, and excludes (as does current law) health plans sponsored by employers of fewer than 50 people.Please take the time to send a quick message to your Senators urging them to support this important public health legislation.Please contact your Senators and ask them to vote yes on S. 3335 when it comes to the floor of the Senate for a vote. I have enclosed a link http://capwiz.com/ena/issues/alert/?alertid=11715526&PROCESS=Take+ActionOnce you have completed the link will automatically be forwarded (if you select email) to a senate official. Additionally you may uncheck receiving additional emails if you would like to control potential legislative spam.As registered nurses and as members of the emergency nurses association we should be proud of our reputation of delivering quality, clinical excellence and a ceaseless endeavor to improve the care for our patients in the Emergency Department and in our community. You can make a difference! Please urge your senators to vote YES!Respectfully,
Seleem Choudhury
Government affairs for ENA Colorado
UPDATE 6/13/2008
"Part of the job" violence in our workplace
ENA Colorado government affair committee
Good morning,
The ENA Colorado government affair committee completed its first meeting on violence against health care workers. The above title was selected from an opening presentation by myself highlighting ENA members, clinical and non clinical colleagues vulnerability to violence in the workplace and the evidence based practice that supports the vulnerability.
The committee decided to adopt a multi prong strategy which would focus on highlighting the issue among our community, our employers, our members, our colleagues and develop roadmap to legislation.
Unified response
We will be communicating and soliciting help from our physician colleagues (ACEP), Colorado hospital Association and hospital security management. We would welcome additional suggestions on other groups we should involve. It is clear from evidence based practice that numerical power will help us make a sustained change.
Hospital Administration and departmental heads
The committee decided that a single letter written by the Colorado ENA stressing the issues of violence in our workplace and removing the misnomer that it is an acceptable part of our working lives. The letter would also state that the ED managers/directors would be contacted and administration and ED managers/directors are encouraged to meet and analyze potential concerns and risk factors.
Both of the letters would emphasize the statistical relevance of verbal and physical assaults, remind the hospital of OSHA's requirement to provide a safe environment, include relevant evidence based practice and would also have the support of at least 31,000 ENA nurses.
Toolkit for ED manager/Directors and ENA members
A toolkit will be provided to empower the ED Manager/Director and ENA members to present the issue to hospital administration. The toolkit will also have the pre-written letters that will be sent to legislators in a quest to petition change.
Legislators
This is seen as the most powerful approach however without significant sponsorship and numerical support it will be challenging to implement any legislative change. This process is being worked upon by a committee sub-group which will be reporting with initial findings within 2-4.
I freely acknowledge that for some this may lack the aggression required to make immediate significant changes. I think for this committee to succeed we need to approach with an escalation strategy to create awareness, encourage change which will be the platform to build our legislative changes.
If you would like to participate in one of the above groups please let me know.
Sincerely,
Seleem Choudhury
Colorado Government Affairs
Director of Emergency Services
Parker Adventist Hospital
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard
Parker, CO 80138
Phone 303-269-4045
Fax 303-269-4821
Email: seleemchoudhury@centura.org
"Support our troops."
UPDATE 5/7/2008
I am inviting all ENA members to attend our first meeting in relation to violence within the workplace.
"ENA Colorado Action Committee to prevent violence against care workers."
The date of this meeting is: May 29th at 1700
Parker Adventist Hospital,
Ground level conference room.
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard,
CO 80138
Thank you,
Seleem
03/2008
Dear Colleagues,
As stated during Thursday ENA meeting I am including all members with the most recent Government affairs (GA)summary. Please take a moment to review and comment. I am leaving tomorrow on a 9 day vacation and upon my return I will be organizing a government affair sub committee and I would welcome all to participate.
I will use the current email list to notify you all of relevant issues that are relevant to our practice as a nurse and specifically as an ED nurse. I will continue to communicate with you in this fashion (being respectful of the amount of emails that I send) and I would encourage you to notify me if you wish to opt out of the government affairs notification.
The government affairs committee has been specifically charged with focusing upon violence in the ED/hospital (upon the RN/clinician.) As a profession and as a professional organization we have the resources and energy to make these actions unacceptable and if necessary to make violent individuals accountable by making an assault against a hospital health worker a felony. In the coming weeks following my return from vacation I will sending out invitations to each of you and together we can devise a roadmap to accomplish this goal.
In the meantime please review the Government affairs summary, The Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform and also review the ENA 2007-2008 Public Policy Agenda.
Thank you,
Seleem Choudhury
Director of Emergency Services
Parker Adventist Hospital
9395 Crown Crest Boulevard
Parker, CO 80138
Phone 303-269-4045
Fax 303-269-4821
Email seleemchoudhury@centura.org
"Support our troops."
