The Department of Public Health has just issued its findings regarding the proposed plan by Cambridge Health Alliance to close its nationally recognized child psychiatric unit for the care of young children with acute mental illness (The DPH letter text appears at the end of this release) The DPH finds that this unit provides an essential service that is “necessary for preserving access and health status in the Cambridge Hospital’s service area, which for the children and adolescents it serves extends throughout Eastern Massachusetts.”

Registered Nurses who work at Rideout Health Group facilities in Marysville and Yuba City north of Sacramento have reached a tentative agreement on a new four year contract that provides important patient care and economic gains and holds the line on health coverage, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United said today. The settlement will go before RNs for ratification in membership meetings Tuesday, May 28.

After hours of negotiations today the registered nurses of UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University campus reached a tentative agreement with UMMMC management that provides the staffing improvements nurses sought to ensure their patients receive quality care at this level one trauma center. The settlement averts a strike, which was set to begin at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

Registered Nurses at Good Samaritan and Regional Medical Center in San Jose begin a two-day strike Thursday, May 23 as RNs at five East Bay Sutter hospitals begin the final day of their seven-day walkout. Both walkouts –protests against hospital employer demands for sweeping reductions in RN standards and concerns about patient protections – will feature large mid-day rallies.

Final Round of Talks Scheduled from 2 – 6 p.m. Today at DCU Center. Pre-Strike Rally Tonight at 6 p.m., Coral Seafood, 225 Shrewsbury St., Worcester. If Talks Fail, Nurses to Conduct One-Day Strike for Safe Patient Care, Thursday, May 23, Beginning at 6 a.m. Nurses Will Picket for 24 hours and will be prepared to re-enter the hospital on May 24 at 6 a.m. to resume care of patients.