SEIU 49 Members Testify in Salem on Behalf of Safer Staffing in Oregon Hospitals
On the last day of February, SEIU Local 49 members showed up at Salem for a second day to sound off in support of safer staffing legislation, House Bill 2697.
HB 2697 would add teeth to legislation that already requires management to properly staff our hospitals, many of which have been understaffed long before the pandemic, as well as including a voice for job classes throughout the healthcare system through joint staffing committees. Those who have worked through the last 3 years expressed concern for patient safety and staff turnover due to understaffing and frustration with management for their lack of leadership addressing this issue. When passed, HB 2697 would define safer staffing ratios, establish an online portal for filing complains regarding hospitals’ failure to comply, and even hit hospitals with a fine for non-compliance.
“We want to be there for our patients, but we are at a breaking point and something needs to change. We cannot do double or triple the work everyday. It’s not safe for us, for patients, or for our community. I am shocked we have to be here in Salem today when a billion-dollar healthcare system cannot and will not solve these issues without legislative intervention.”
—Keven Dardon
Patient Access Representative | Kaiser Permanente
“Many times we’re required to deal with heartbreaking cases only to be told we don’t even have the time to process what just happened. One of these experiences happened to my coworker recently… A patient was having a mental health emergency and while my coworker was on the phone with them and we weren’t able to get the care this person needed quick enough, tragically this person took their own life… He needed to get up to process this and he was told he needed to get back on the phones.”
—Jay Ogden
Patient Access Specialist | Kaiser Permanente
“In my department, we are adequately staffed only about twice a month... Now it takes us longer to get our rooms turned over. We used to have twelve EVS workers in the OR and worked in teams of three with one floater and that got reduced to nine people cleaning the ORs and not everything is not getting cleaned. The floors aren’t getting scrubbed, the shelves aren’t being pulled out and dusted, and the floors aren’t being swept or mopped on a regular basis. The hospital then reduces that staffing team to two, plus one worker, who floats.”
—Lorie Quinn
Environmental Services Worker| PeaceHealth Riverbend
“I take pride in providing my patients and coworkers with a safe environment to heal and do their jobs. I take it very seriously because I understand my patients' lives change in the rooms I clean… Managers routinely pull members of our team from their areas of work to other units in addition to their assigned cuties. The problem with consistently doing so is that each unit has a different protocol and there is a chance you will endanger a patient by not doing your job correctly. When workers ask to work in their assigned areas, we are chastised and given the ultimatum to do as we’re told or go home.”
—Alex Sandonari
Environmental Services Worker | Legacy Emanuel Hospital
“Our staffing problem proceeds COVID 19 and the subsequent great resignation. A real legislative solution to protect both workers and patients is long overdue... Appointment call centers are frequently patients' first point of contact when needing care. The short staffing at call centers create long waits for patients to receive their care. Patients are often pressed for time and may be calling when they’re on break from work where they only have 15 minutes. They may not be able to endure the lengthy wait time and their appointments will go unscheduled, delaying or even preventing access to much needed care.”
—Wally Walls
Patient Access Specialist | Kaiser Permanente
“When I work in the emergency department, I see how understaffing in environmental services delays the ability of patients to be seen. When there are not adequate dietary workers, we see our cafeterias closed, patient meal options limited and—despite our best efforts—food served cold. Legislation like House Bill 2697 will give workers in service, technical and professional units a stronger voice in staffing plans. We will also gain new tools to ensure our facilities are following those plans to best provide the type of care our patients deserve.”
—Megan Mayes
Patient Access Representative | Kaiser Permanente
“... Staffing issues are making it impossible to get the same fulfillment and provide the type of care that patients need and deserve. With that being said, we have closed twelve (12) beds in our ICU for almost two (2) years now due to staffing… In the ICU, it’s not uncommon for a CNA to have 36 patients. These patients need to be turned two (2) hours so we’re running from room-to-room to make sure they’re not getting these bed sores.”
—Alicia Holihan
Patient Team Support | PeaceHealth Riverbend
“At our facility, it’s not uncommon for CNA2’s to be assigned to a floor with thirty-six (36) patients, oftentimes, ones of us being pulled to do one-on-one care. This leads to more patient falls, delays in turning patients and movement. This results in many patients will take longer to discharge because they develop sores or become deconditioned. We care a great deal about serving our patients while they’re in our care, but current staff decisions by our hospitals has created a crisis. Morale is low, we are often told just to deal with it.”
—Hollie Murphy
CNA | PeaceHealth Riverbend
