There’s a battle going on over the future of New York healthcare. It’s time for all of us to step up and do our part.
The governor, out-of-state giant healthcare chains, and real-estate developers are pushing an experimental for-profit “pilot program.” They want to let private equity investors and hedge funds experiment with running a hospital.
Wall Street drove our economy off a cliff. Now they want to experiment on our patients?
We have a different vision. We are defending our community and public hospitals against Wall Street. We are telling lawmakers we need to pass the Safe Patient Handling Act. And we are laying the groundwork to make New York the next state to pass safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
Last week, we took to the streets to Save Interfaith and Long Island College Hospital, testified for safe staffing in Albany, rallied with 1199 to Save Mount Vernon Hospital, and continued our work helping Staten Island recover from Hurricane Sandy.
The week ahead will be a crucial one in this battle. We need you to do your part.
MONDAY, Feb. 4: Call your lawmaker and tell them to support Safe Patient Handling
The New York Assembly’s Health Committee is considering the Safe Patient Handling Bill (A2180a/ S 1123a).THURSDAY, Feb. 7, 9:00 AM: Care for the Bronx — Save Westchester Square!
This bill will require hospitals to give us and other caregivers the equipment we need to safely care for and move our patients — and ensure that we can continue delivering care without destroying our own bodies.
Our lawmakers need to hear from us. Call 518.455.2800 and ask to speak to your Assemblyperson and tell them: Support the Safe Patient Handling Bill. E-mail sally.dreslin@nysna.org to report your call.
Big hospital chains are scooping up struggling community hospitals and stripping them down for parts.Standing up for our public healthcare system
That’s what’s happening at the Bronx’s Westchester Square, where Montefiore wants to eliminate all in-patient beds, and turn the hospital into an urgent care facility.
Nurses and community members tell the Department of Health why this is bad for the Bronx this Thursday at 9:00 AM, at a Press Conference at 90 Church St. in Manhattan. DOWNLOAD THE FLIER HERE. Transportation will be provided from Westchester Square at 8:00 AM. RSVP to crystal.shipp@nysna.org.
Our public hospitals have few greater defenders than Judy Wessler, the director of the Commission on the Public’s Health System. This week Judy is moving on, and NYSNA HHC leaders will be will be there to thank her for all of her good work and welcome the new director.Feb. 16: Members support safe staffing at Black, Latino and Asian Legislative Caucus
On Feb. 16, thousands of lawmakers, community and union members will gather for the Black, Latino, and Asian Legislative Caucus.
We will be there to speak to our allies about our concerns with Brooklyn hospital closings, the governor’s dangerous for-profit hospital experiment, and the staffing crisis.
Find out more and register here.
The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for hundreds of thousands of frontline nurses. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses.