Hospital workers look forward to joining Reading Health System

READING, PA |

Original article can be found at: http://www.dailylocal.com/

By Donna Rovins, drovins@21st-centurymedia.com, @MercBiz on Twitter

The union representing workers at three area hospitals says its members look forward to “building a collaborative relationship” with Reading Health System, which has announced plans to buy a total of five hospitals in the region.

Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Pennsylvania represents workers at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center in Pottstown, Jennersville Regional Hospital in Penn Township in southern Chester County and Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia.

In a written statement, the organization said its members look forward to a partnership to improve patient care.

Reading Health, which owns the Reading Hospital, said last week it plans to purchase the hospitals, as well as Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville and Brandywine Hospital in Caln Township from Community Health Systems Inc. of Franklin, Tenn. The transaction is expected to be completed this summer.

This growing trend — large hospital systems buying small community facilities — is the “new normal” for the healthcare industry, according to a press release.

“It can be a huge concern for patients because suddenly decisions are being made miles away by executives who don’t know the area or the people here,” Jake Reese, an RN at Regional Hospital of Scranton said in the release.

That hospital went through ownership change in 2014. “That’s why it’s vital that nurse and other healthcare workers have a strong voice. We are part of this community, we know our patients, we know what they need, and we will keep advocating for them.”

According to SEIU, that advocacy happens through practices like regular Labor-Management meetings to create a better workplace and being part of the conversation as hospitals change owners.

“A lot of people think a union contract is just about wages, but that’s not the case,” Lori Willis, a Radiologic Technologist at Jennersville Hospital for seven years, said in the release. “For healthcare, a contract also needs to establish guidelines and protocols, and even staffing, to make sure our patients get what they need.”

For some workers, this may not be the first ownership change they have experienced.

For Roxanne Dunsmore, a CT Technologist at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center for the past 18 years — patients need to come first.

“This may be an industry, but it can’t be treated like one. Lives are at stake,” she said in the release. “It doesn’t matter whose name is on the door, we look forward to sitting down with management and figuring out how we can make our hospital a success. That means making sure patients are always a top priority amid change.”

SEIU does not represent workers at Brandywine, Phoenixville or Reading hospitals, according to a union spokeswoman. However, the organization does represent 45,000 healthcare workers across the state including homecare and nursing home workers. In hospitals, SEIU represents RNs and LPNs, CNAs, clerical, techs, service and maintenance as well as dietary employees.

Community Health Systems announced in September 2016, that it would begin “exploring a variety of options for its future.” Since then, the corporation has announced the divestiture of six Pennsylvania hospitals in addition to the five announced last week.

In addition, several other Pennsylvania hospitals have changed hands in recent years: Altoona Regional and Lewistown Hospital in 2013, and Pocono Medical Center and Schuylkill Medical Center in 2016, according to SEIU.

Because of the continuing trend, SEIU is planning a telephone roundtable discussion with nurses and other hospital workers. That discussion is expected to take place within the next week, according to the union spokeswoman.

The West Reading-based Reading Health System plans to change its name to Tower Health in the summer to reflect its new regional structure that is expected to serve a population of 2.5 million individuals. The acquisition supports Reading Health’s strategic vision of remaining a strong, regional, integrated provider/payer system.