June 1: National Day of Action

On June 1, registered nurses in California, Ohio, and West Virginia will be participating in a national day of action to call for safe patient care and fair treatment of RNs at Community Health Systems and Quorum Health Corporation facilities—stating that the for-profit corporations are not making patients their first priority.

"I work at Watsonville Community Hospital in California because this is where I live, and I wanted to be a registered nurse who cares for my community. But since CHS/Quorum took over our hospital, the dangerous short staffing, deteriorating patient care conditions, and retaliation against nurses who speak out makes me realize how truly little this lawless corporation cares about any of us,” said Shanandrea Castro, RN. “Our nurses are joining this national day of action on June 1 to let CHS/Quorum know that we will never back down as long our patients' and community's rights and safety are put at risk."

To draw attention to RN concerns, the following actions will take place:

JUNE 1 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO CALL FOR SAFE PATIENT CARE, FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS

• Watsonville Community Hospital, Watsonville, CA – Informational Picket, Vigil: 6pm–8pm Update: 4pm PST
  Contact Teresa Mack at 510-289-3291
• Affinity Medical Center, Massillon OH – Informational Picket – 6pm–8:30pm EST
  Contact Michelle Mahon at 234-207-6706
• Barstow Community Hospital, Barstow, CA – Informational Picket – 6pm–8pm PST
  Contact James Moy at 818-433-2119
• Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Ronceverte, WV – RNs will take part in a variety of activities to draw attention to safe patient care.
  For details, contact Michelle Mahon at 234-207-6706
• Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Bluefield, WV – RN Media Availability, 9am–12:00
  Contact Vanessa Sylvester at 207-441-6762

RNs from CHS and QHC facilities recently spoke at the CHS shareholders meeting about their belief that these systems do not pay attention to RNs regarding patient safety issues, including safe staffing. Many studies have shown that when there is a safe nurse-to-patient ratio, patients have better health outcomes including a reduction in hospital acquired infections (HAIs), falls, and bedsores.  A University of Pennsylvania study has shown that on a medical floor with appropriate ratios, patient deaths could be reduced by 14 percent.

“Affinity nurses are united and focused on our mission to provide safe patient care at all times” said, Stephanie Still, RN, of Affinity Medical Center in Massillon, Ohio.  “We are committed to securing these protections for patients in our contract, as well as expanding them to all Ohio patients. Ohio nurses have even worked with our Senators to introduce SB 324 The Ohio Hospital Patient Protection act—which would set an enforceable limit on the number of patients that any nurse could be made to care for at any one time. ”

RNs know from experience that less profitable units and facilities CHS hospitals have ended up closing their doors. In 2014, at Fallbrook Hospital in California, the corporation suspended OB services, then demanded the cash-starved local healthcare district compensate CHS for losses—before eventually walking away from operating the hospital, which was shuttered within weeks. RNs will be speaking out about recent CHS threats to close the Bluefield Regional Medical Center OB department and call on CHS to maintain all services and units at the hospital.

CHS has also violated the National Labor Relations Act many times including the illegal discharge of an RN, bad faith bargaining, and other illegal actions including intimidations of nurses.  CHS is current on trial with the National Labor Relations Board for this activity.

For more information www.nationalnursesunited.org/state/eyeonchs

View updeated release here.