FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 14, 2013, 1:00 p.m. EST
Contact: Jeff Hall, 617-281-8384, jeff.hall@1199.org, @1199mass
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Healthcare workers form “Ten Taxpayer Group” to monitor Jordan Hospital acquisition
Caregivers also begin planning public forum on proposed deal
PLYMOUTH, MA – Healthcare workers from Jordan Hospital are taking official action to help ensure a community dialogue regarding the proposed acquisition of their hospital by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
Employees from departments across the 155-bed facility have formed a “Ten Taxpayer Group” – which will give them an official role and access to key filings during the merger application process that will be overseen by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and its Determination of Need (DON) program. Through its DON program, DPH regulates the approval or rejection of applications by licensed hospitals to conduct acquisitions such as the one proposed by BIDMC and Jordan Healthcare Systems, Inc. (JHSI).
By taking the official action to form a “Ten Taxpayer Group”, workers from Jordan Hospital will be privy to all key documents that executives from Jordan and BIDMC file to DPH as part of the process.
“We formed a Ten Taxpayer Group so we can keep the Plymouth community and Jordan employees informed of what’s going on with the acquisition,” said Michelle Hill, a Lab Tech at Jordan Hospital.
“There is a possibility the proposed deal could bring additional resources to our community, but healthcare workers are not taking anything for granted,” said Jerry Fishbein, Vice President of 1199SEIU, “By caregivers forming this group, we will be able to obtain and share details with the public and the local press, so there can be a genuine community dialogue about whether or not this acquisition will include long term commitments that benefit the community. The formation of the Ten Taxpayer Group is one step amongst others that healthcare workers will take to ensure there is a public dialogue.”
Healthcare workers say they are hoping Jordan Hospital CEO Peter Holden and BIDMC CEO Kevin Tabb will engage in a transparent process that includes workers and the community in discussions about how the acquisition will impact local jobs and access to local care for the Plymouth area.
The workers say they hope BIDMC plans to invest significant resources in Jordan – not just siphon resources away from the community hospital. Workers are hoping the acquisition will mean greater access to high quality healthcare services for local residents and increased volume at the facility.
Workers at Jordan who are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the state’s largest healthcare union, are also looking towards upcoming contract negotiations for more than 800 of the facility’s staff which they say will be an indicator as to whether or not BIDMC intends to make a concrete commitment to invest in in local jobs and local care services.
Healthcare workers are planning a community forum on the acquisition, slated for the evening of Tuesday, March 20, 2013 at the Radisson Hotel, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA.
“We’re being pro-active about the changes that are about to occur,” said Operating Room secretary Veronica Pierce.
ATTACHMENTS (2): Courtesy photo of Jordan Hospital workers who have joined the Ten Taxpayer Group – cropped and un-cropped versions
# # #
Representing more than 47,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and 370,000 workers across Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, and Washington, D.C., 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
Thursday, February 14, 2013, 1:00 p.m. EST
Contact: Jeff Hall, 617-281-8384, jeff.hall@1199.org, @1199mass
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Healthcare workers form “Ten Taxpayer Group” to monitor Jordan Hospital acquisition
Caregivers also begin planning public forum on proposed deal
PLYMOUTH, MA – Healthcare workers from Jordan Hospital are taking official action to help ensure a community dialogue regarding the proposed acquisition of their hospital by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
Employees from departments across the 155-bed facility have formed a “Ten Taxpayer Group” – which will give them an official role and access to key filings during the merger application process that will be overseen by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and its Determination of Need (DON) program. Through its DON program, DPH regulates the approval or rejection of applications by licensed hospitals to conduct acquisitions such as the one proposed by BIDMC and Jordan Healthcare Systems, Inc. (JHSI).
By taking the official action to form a “Ten Taxpayer Group”, workers from Jordan Hospital will be privy to all key documents that executives from Jordan and BIDMC file to DPH as part of the process.
“We formed a Ten Taxpayer Group so we can keep the Plymouth community and Jordan employees informed of what’s going on with the acquisition,” said Michelle Hill, a Lab Tech at Jordan Hospital.
“There is a possibility the proposed deal could bring additional resources to our community, but healthcare workers are not taking anything for granted,” said Jerry Fishbein, Vice President of 1199SEIU, “By caregivers forming this group, we will be able to obtain and share details with the public and the local press, so there can be a genuine community dialogue about whether or not this acquisition will include long term commitments that benefit the community. The formation of the Ten Taxpayer Group is one step amongst others that healthcare workers will take to ensure there is a public dialogue.”
Healthcare workers say they are hoping Jordan Hospital CEO Peter Holden and BIDMC CEO Kevin Tabb will engage in a transparent process that includes workers and the community in discussions about how the acquisition will impact local jobs and access to local care for the Plymouth area.
The workers say they hope BIDMC plans to invest significant resources in Jordan – not just siphon resources away from the community hospital. Workers are hoping the acquisition will mean greater access to high quality healthcare services for local residents and increased volume at the facility.
Workers at Jordan who are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the state’s largest healthcare union, are also looking towards upcoming contract negotiations for more than 800 of the facility’s staff which they say will be an indicator as to whether or not BIDMC intends to make a concrete commitment to invest in in local jobs and local care services.
Healthcare workers are planning a community forum on the acquisition, slated for the evening of Tuesday, March 20, 2013 at the Radisson Hotel, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA.
“We’re being pro-active about the changes that are about to occur,” said Operating Room secretary Veronica Pierce.
ATTACHMENTS (2): Courtesy photo of Jordan Hospital workers who have joined the Ten Taxpayer Group – cropped and un-cropped versions
# # #
Representing more than 47,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and 370,000 workers across Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, and Washington, D.C., 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
