On Wednesday, Nov. 13, mediation was held at Catholic Health/ St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center to address repeated understaffing issues in the emergency department (ED). For months, the hospital has been plagued by understaffing, particularly in the ED and intensive care units. This understaffing, the result of the hospital’s failure to adhere to safe staffing ratios, alongside the closure of St. Catherine’s maternal child health services earlier this year, has put patient care at risk.
Our ability to strengthen our public health infrastructure, our social safety net, and take action to support frontline workers depends on electing candidates who support nurses, healthcare professionals, and our communities.
On Oct. 3, NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center held a press conference, urging hospital administrators to stop hiding the staffing crisis and release the Department of Health (DOH) staffing deficiency report. The hospital has 45 days to share the report and include nurses in the planning of a solution to correct deficiencies.