Union airs concerns about firm that bought Crozer
LANSDOWNE » Union nurses and staff told elected officials how Prospect Medical Holdings has led to the decline of patient care with tactics that demoralize staff and impact security and supplies.
The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals hosted a community forum at the 20th Century Club in Lansdowne to tell state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, Delaware County District Attorney Kat Copeland and county councilmen John McBlain and Kevin Madden some of the concerns they have since Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. acquired the Crozer-Keystone Health System in 2016.
The union is awaiting an arbitration date regarding their contention that the company owes 670 nurses, pharmacists, technicians and paramedics about $583,900 in unpaid pension requirements. At issue is the provision that employees must work 1,000 hours in a given time to qualify for this benefit. The company has contended they are not liable for the time from July to December of 2016.
“We are left trying to do more with less,” Patricia Eakin, president of PASNAP, said, adding the company has failed to make the $200 million investments in the hospitals, $3 million owed to the Ridley, Upper Darby and Springfield school districts and mentioning the court settlement of $56 million Prospect made to Crozer. “They failed to fund the pensions they have to fund ... We’ve had battles with them ever since they came in 2016.”
Although Prospect representatives were not present at Wednesday’s forum, officials had previously issued a statement that read in part, “This is a union-orchestrated event that in no way reflects the tremendous progress Crozer-Keystone has made since becoming a part of Prospect ... Prospect Medical Holdings has delivered all appropriate payments to its employee pensions and retirement plans.”
Angela Neopolitano, a nurse at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and PASNAP board member, said she knew of another nurse who worked 999.34 hours in the period of July 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016 and did not receive the pension benefit.
Janet Dwyer, a Crozer-Chester Medical Center nurse, said the members don’t want to be in a struggle.
“We just want to be nurses,” she said. “We don’t want to fight for every dollar that we’ve earned.”
Crystal Williams, Delaware County Memorial Hospital nurse, joined the concerns voiced about safety.
“When you see the shortages that are being pushed on the employees, it makes you wonder if you can trust the care that you receive in the time that you need it the most,” she said.
She also spoke to concerns about security leaving the building.
“You don’t feel safe leaving the building,” she said as others noted the small number of security staff and the multiple entrances and exits at the hospital. “We need more security. We need to feel if something happens, there is somebody there to protect us.”
After Eakin asked if there was a way for elected officials to orchestrate a meeting with union and company representatives, McBlain said he would approach Patrick Gavin, CEO of Crozer-Keystone Health System, and ask for such a meeting to air some of these concerns.
Madden, like many of the elected officials, said he attended the forum to listen.
“This is very troubling to me,” he said. “Crozer-Keystone has obviously been an incredibly important member of our community and being a leader in the community means treating all stakeholders with respect. That’s your patients and, certainly your employees.”
Copeland said her office would stand by the nurses’ side.
McGarrigle expressed his concern. “It’s very alarming to hear that a company wants to turn profits over care for patients,” he said.
Based on what she’s seen and capturing a sentiment voiced by many in the room Wednesday evening, Judy Ramos said she’s noticed a difference between CrozerKeystone and Prospect.
“It’s pretty clear they don’t have the same commitment to the community,” the Crozer-Chester Medical Center pharmacist said..