'CVPH can't you see: This is a healthcare emergency'

PLATTSBURGH | "It's more and more frequent that patients are being held in the ER for over 72 hours sometimes waiting for beds upstairs, and most times it's 15 to 20 patients we're holding over in the ER," Heather Cartee, a registered nurse at the University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital stated during a New York State Nurses Association Informational Picket March 15. Nurses and community members took to the sidewalks outside CVPH with informational signs to ask CVPH to return to the bargaining table. "This is our new normal, but it's not normal, it is not safe. The new normal is our patients being held for days in the ER. They're on stretchers in the hallways, they're missing their food, diagnostic tests, medications, and in this environment, our patient safety is at risk," Cartee added, "The new normal is insane." The hospital is not just short-staffed in nurses, but in almost every department. Bobbi-Jo Otis, RN and Co-Chair of the NYSNA-CVPH executive committee said, "This hospital cannot survive and provide the quality care the North Country deserves if we lose more staff, more services, or our health benefits that keep us healthy and able to care for this community. We need CVPH to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. We need a fair contract with a real plan to hire, retain and respect the people who work for the health of this community." "Our goal remains to create a collective bargaining agreement that values all of our employees, recognizes the realities of today's health care industry, and supports a strong path forward for our organization. We believe our offer achieves that goal and offers our NYSNA-represented employees a contract that will support them as we continue to evolve and pave a sustainable path forward," stated CVPH President Michelle LeBeau, in a statement released by the hospital. "If I cannot stay healthy, how can I keep my patients healthy? We are just asking for what we deserve—to keep our benefits. Good health benefits are important to me and my family. It is not right that the hospital I work for wants to limit my healthcare choices and increase my costs." said, Vicki Davis Courson, RN. Community members honked their horns in support as they drove by the informational picket, showing that even if they couldn't attend, the community supports their healthcare heroes. CVPH has been meeting with NYSNA on a monthly basis trying to agree on a contract that satisfies both sides. Until that happens, nurses at CVPH will continue working without a contract, as they have done for the past two years.

Signup for our newsletter

'CVPH can't you see: This is a healthcare emergency'

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS