Commissioners Pass PHT Ordinance After SEIU 1991 Members Speak Out

After hearing from SEIU 1991 ARNPs and RNs, the Miami-Dade Commission
adopted an ordinance today establishing its ability to create a special
Financial Recovery Board in case the efforts of Jackson's management and
PHT Board don't meet with the County's approval. The new Board does not
immediately replace the Trust or management, but sets up the framework
for doing so if that should become necessary.

Martha Turner, an RN from Jackson South, spoke of the dedication of the
nurses and other healthcare providers and reiterated her determination
to see that Jackson remain a precious resource for our community. She
recounted how difficult short sighted management decisions could make
things for caregivers who were now being asked to transport their own
patients, answer telephones and do other critical work of unit
secretaries.  She urged the commissioners to support the front line
caregivers.

A number of ARNP leaders spoke to the devastating impact the layoffs are
having on patient care in various areas of the hospital. Carole Robley,
ARNP, and member of SEIU Local 1991 Executive Board, told the
commissioners of the difficult consequences for patients in the
emergency room where she works now that the clinics have fewer doctors.
"Now patients are forced to come to the emergency room as their primary
care site, and return to the emergency room the next time they are ill."


Karen Chamuel, ARNP, who received recognition for work she did rescuing
a baby from the rubble of Haiti's earthquake, spoke of cuts to the
Urology Clinic where she worked, which will result in delayed treatment
for patients.  Cathy Martin, ARNP, and Chiffon Holiday, ARNP, offered
similar examples from where they worked in SICU and the Pedi Urology
Clinic.

President Martha Baker, RN, enumerated the many ways in which Jackson's RNs,
physicians, and healthcare professionals had already sacrificed to save
Jackson as the jewel of our community.  She reminded them of the $106
million our members and those of AFSCME had voluntarily offered to the
effort to save Jackson, the hundreds of millions which we are seeking
from the federal government, and the over $50 million in efficiencies
our members have already offered. She expressed the union's support of
the ordinance to give the Commission a way to provide strong leadership
at all levels for Jackson. She pointed out that the union had offered on
several occasions to help management avoid the ill-conceived lay-off
decisions such as those outlined by the members who testified.  "Our
agreement called for full integration into decisions at Jackson, but
that has certainly not happened," she said. "We support the ordinance to give the
Commission the tools to provide it needs if mismanagement continues as
these levels."