In Brief: 5,000 Nurses Set To Strike Statewide; PAMF, UnitedHealthcare Create ACO; Sutter Donates $500K For Nepal Recovery Effort
5,000 Nurses Set To Strike At Hospitals Statewide
As many as 5,000 nurses at California hospitals are set to strike Thursday and Friday, officials with the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United said this week.
The work stoppages would take place at eight different hospitals, including Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance; Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica; Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Los Angeles and five hospitals operated by Sutter Health in the Bay Area and the Central Valley.
The union, one of California’s largest and most influential, say the hospitals have not been providing enough staff, potentially endangering patient safety. They also object to what they say are planned health benefits cuts for Sutter nurses.
"Across the country, nurses are unified in insisting that hospitals improve RN staffing which far too often is compromising patient safety and other patient protections," said NNU Co-President Karen Higgins, RN.
The hospitals have countered that the unions are using the strikes to leverage ongoing negotiations and to flex their muscles against potential rival unions.
PAMF, UnitedHealthcare Form ACO
The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and insurer UnitedHealthcare have formed an accountable care organization in the Bay Area.
The ACO will focus on improving care and cutting costs for 63,000 UnitedHealth employer group enrollees.
The ACO will deploy health navigators and real-time notification of ER visits and inpatient admissions in order to try and cut down on costs while improving quality.
“Our collaboration with Palo Alto Medical Foundation is the latest in a series of value-based initiatives we’re launching in California that will help connect the people we collectively serve to the right, most effective care, place a greater focus on the quality of their care, and compensate care providers for improving patients’ health,” said UnitedHealthcare California CEO Brandon Cuevas.
Sutter Health Donates $500K For Nepal Recovery Effort
Sacramento-based hospital sstem Sutter Health has donated $500,000 toward the recovery from last week’s devastating earthquake in Nepal.
The American Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund and the International Medical Corps will receive $250,000 apiece.
The money will be used to deploy and operate additional mobile medical units and bring medicine to Nepal.
"The widespread damage and suffering caused by this massive earthquake is incomprehensible," said Sutter Health Chief Executive Officer Patrick Fry. "Our hearts are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this catastrophic disaster. We hope our donation brings comfort and relief to those who need it the most."
