The Illinois House of Representatives will soon vote on House Bill 822, which would establish a medication aide program for assisted living facilities and nursing homes in Illinois. The program would train certified and experienced nursing assistants to pass out routine medications, freeing up time for nurses to conduct more bedside assessment and treatment.

I strongly support this legislation as a means of improving hands-on care by professional nurses for the thousands of frail and elderly citizens who live in Illinois’ long-term care community.

On average, HB 822 will free-up 49 nursing hours per week at a long-term care facility for professional nurses to give hands-on resident care. Nurses will be able to spend more time evaluating resident conditions, addressing chronic pain and reducing falls. Also, the program creates a professional career ladder for lower wage workers to enter into a career in nursing.

Sixteen states employ medication technicians in nursing homes, including the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. At least 30 other states currently employ medication technicians to administer routine medications in assisted living facilities.

Medication aides would focus on passing out routine medications throughout the day. A University of Wisconsin study indicates that medication aides make fewer errors because they are not distracted or called away to perform other tasks.

Ultimately, this program eliminates a major time obstacle that makes it challenging for nurses to provide thorough, attentive and compassionate care at the bedsides of residents. It’s a "win-win" program for Illinois’ long-term care community.