Northside Nurses Take Their Case Directly to Corporate Brass

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nurses from Northside Medical Center are attending the Community Health Systems' annual shareholders meeting in New York City today to voice concerns about the company's plan to adopt a staffing model that could hurt the quality of patient care.

The nurses carried shareholder proxies that allowed them to question the CHS Board of Directors about the Nashville, Tenn.-based company's stewardship of Northside and other hospitals. At issue in Youngstown is CHS's plan to adopt a staffing model at Northside in which nurses could be told not to come in or sent home on short notice when there are fewer patients than anticipated—and then called back if the patient count suddenly rises.

"Our nurses are concerned enough about CHS's proposed changes to the staffing system that they are traveling nearly 400 miles to New York to bring their concerns directly to the company's board and shareholders," said Kelly Trautner, deputy executive officer of the Ohio Nurses Association.

Northside nurses are nearing their 11^th month without a new contract. ONA has been urging CHS to work together to reach an agreement that will continue the facility's excellent record of quality patient care.

The nurses will also be distributing leaflets outside the meeting detailing their concerns.

The Northside nurses who are attending the shareholders meeting today are Joyce Shaffer, John Klimko and Jeanne Mulichak.  The nurses will be available for media interviews after their presentations.

Community Health Systems (CHS) is one of the largest for profit hospital chains in the country with 135 hospitals.

SOURCE Ohio Nurses Association

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