By “Heddi”
DemocraticUnderground.com

It is a teaching hospital associated with a state-run university. It’s actually the university that got its budget cut by 47%, and that cut was made by the governor who is focusing the brunt of budget cuts to health and education. It is a level-1 trauma center that caters to at least 6 states. It is also a community hospital. Being state run, we cannot refuse anyone any care unless we do not have the staff to do so.

Also affected are the 30 or so community health centers the university and hospital operate. These are clinics that primarily serve the homeless populations, but there are also many low-income and sliding scale income clinics…These facilities ensure that the already bulging ER isn’t filled to capacity on an even more regular basis…Now those resources are gone and the ER will be just as full as ever…

The hospital admins have already decided that they are going to negate the contract they just signed last fall for pay increases…They are also cutting our support staff. The hiring freeze doesn’t just affect RN’s. Medical and Hospital Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Phlebotomists, Lab Techs, Radiology, Transportation–all are being cut. The MA’s are being downgraded to HA’s so that they won’t be able to get THEIR union-guaranteed pay raise. They have also cut ALL overtime.

…(Y)ou better hope you’re the sickest patient on the floor because that’s the only way you’ll get needed attention. Otherwise, I’ll see you at 9pm…and 4am for assessment and meds. I hope that the time between them you are the most stable you’ll be, because I can’t guarantee that you’ll be tended to…

More