Nursing union begins investigation of labor practices at CMH
NORWICH – An investigation has begun into charges of unfair labor practices at Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Service Employees International Union #1199 Organizer Rick Oppedisano said he had filed labor board charges after CMH administrators failed to provide requested information about an emergency room nurse who claimed she was discharged inappropriately.
“We requested info about a discharge and the hospital won’t give it to us, so we filed. We need it to support a possible grievance,” said Oppedisan, whose office is based in Syracuse. He said the nurse was fired in late November for a perceived violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
A hospital spokesman said yesterday that there have been no unusual or out of the norm number of firings or layoffs of nurses at the hospital. He did confirm that one nurse had been terminated over the Thanksgiving holiday and another had resigned since then.
The Evening Sun has been in contact with two CMH nurses who requested to remain anonymous. Both said many long-term and thus higher-salaried emergency room nurses had been fired or laid off over the past two years.
An unnamed nurse said the last two who left were on account of HIPAA violations that she said were “kind of trumped up” and “for the tiniest little things.”
“We’ve lost just about every familiar face in the ER. There are only about two or three of us left,” she said. “It’s like they are targeting the old timers.”
CMH currently contracts with an agency to employ six, full-time, traveling, per diem nurses, three of whom are in the Emergency Services Department. One full-time, traveling doctor is also dedicated to the ESD.
“I think we need to focus that our Emergency Services Department is fully staffed and, in fact, is staffed above the New York state requirement. In addition, all staff working in the ESD have experience and qualifications that more then meet standards,” said CMH Nursing Director Dru Cavanagh in an e-mailed statement to the newspaper.
Another employed nurse, who also chose not to be identified, said her patients often thank her for being in the emergency room because they know her. “They say, ‘I’m glad you are here because I know you deliver good care and you care about us,’” she said. “The per diem travelers ... they don’t know anyone in the community.”
Oppedisan said he hoped CMH management and SEIU #1199 could come to an agreement before the case in question becomes a grievance. However, he said he had a list of 25 to 30-year career nurses who live in the Chenango County community and have a concern about their jobs.
SEIU #1199 at Chenango Memorial Hospital protested a new pay policy for nurses that was enacted back in March of 2008.
Service Employees International Union #1199 Organizer Rick Oppedisano said he had filed labor board charges after CMH administrators failed to provide requested information about an emergency room nurse who claimed she was discharged inappropriately.
“We requested info about a discharge and the hospital won’t give it to us, so we filed. We need it to support a possible grievance,” said Oppedisan, whose office is based in Syracuse. He said the nurse was fired in late November for a perceived violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
A hospital spokesman said yesterday that there have been no unusual or out of the norm number of firings or layoffs of nurses at the hospital. He did confirm that one nurse had been terminated over the Thanksgiving holiday and another had resigned since then.
The Evening Sun has been in contact with two CMH nurses who requested to remain anonymous. Both said many long-term and thus higher-salaried emergency room nurses had been fired or laid off over the past two years.
An unnamed nurse said the last two who left were on account of HIPAA violations that she said were “kind of trumped up” and “for the tiniest little things.”
“We’ve lost just about every familiar face in the ER. There are only about two or three of us left,” she said. “It’s like they are targeting the old timers.”
CMH currently contracts with an agency to employ six, full-time, traveling, per diem nurses, three of whom are in the Emergency Services Department. One full-time, traveling doctor is also dedicated to the ESD.
“I think we need to focus that our Emergency Services Department is fully staffed and, in fact, is staffed above the New York state requirement. In addition, all staff working in the ESD have experience and qualifications that more then meet standards,” said CMH Nursing Director Dru Cavanagh in an e-mailed statement to the newspaper.
Another employed nurse, who also chose not to be identified, said her patients often thank her for being in the emergency room because they know her. “They say, ‘I’m glad you are here because I know you deliver good care and you care about us,’” she said. “The per diem travelers ... they don’t know anyone in the community.”
Oppedisan said he hoped CMH management and SEIU #1199 could come to an agreement before the case in question becomes a grievance. However, he said he had a list of 25 to 30-year career nurses who live in the Chenango County community and have a concern about their jobs.
SEIU #1199 at Chenango Memorial Hospital protested a new pay policy for nurses that was enacted back in March of 2008.
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