After months of trying to work together to fix Jackson, we finally have a positive response!

A partnership agreement was announced at a press conference today aimed at improving efficiencies within Jackson Health System.

This is an important development in our efforts to make Jackson more efficient and to maintain our premier reputation for patient care.

The terms of the agreement provide that our members, Jackson's frontline caregivers, along with Public Health Trust decision makers and financial and operational experts provided by our union will:

Work collaboratively to ascertain potential actions and
models to assure short term survival as well as long term
sustainability of Jackson for the greater good of the
community.

Meet as often as necessary over a 45-day period
beginning March 1 to explore all operational options for
closing the Jackson budget deficit.

During that time Jackson has agreed not to lay off or contract out the
services of our members.

This partnership is an important first step in giving Jackson's dedicated caregivers and the patients we serve a voice in addressing the serious problems that plague our public health system. Our goal is to make Jackson financially stable again without sacrificing the high quality of care for which we are known.

In addition to the input of our members to provide efficiencies ideas, our union will engage the services of Medicaid revenue experts to explore and make recommendations to improve the financial sustainability of Jackson.  This includes President Martha Baker, RN, and Dr. Eneida Roldan, CEO of Jackson Health System, traveling together to Washington, DC to attempt to obtain additional Medicaid revenue.  They hope that this effort will yield at least $50 million in new dollars to Jackson.

While there are no guarantees what this partnership will produce, with this united energy, we are confident that we will make Jackson better.