NYC’s frontline doctors need your help
In 2020 we as a nation faced the most difficult of times. We battled a 1-in-a-100-year pandemic as countries closed off borders, travel was restricted and much of the world wore face masks to protect themselves and loved ones from infection. More than a million Americans perished and we, the dedicated doctors, fought for your and our own survival.
Each day, more than a dozen patients would succumb to the virus within our hospital walls at Elmhurst Hospital. Ours mirrored the reality of virtually every public hospital in New York. In an attempt to mitigate the havoc wrought by this new disease, overworked physicians and nurses worked round the clock treating hundreds of patients despite the incredible danger it posed to their own well-being.
These numbers reflect the magnitude of the battle waged by health care professionals at Elmhurst and all of the city’s other public hospitals. A battle that, at times, felt apocalyptic.
As health care professionals, we witnessed the chaos within the emergency rooms — the stretchers running out, freezer trucks being used to store bodies as morgues overflowed, chairs doubling as makeshift accommodations, and the overwhelming demand for critical care. The intensive care units intended for the most critical cases and sickest patients, were inundated beyond capacity, underscoring the immense strain placed upon our health care workforce.
Before the pandemic, the city’s hospital system grappled with significant physician staffing challenges. However, the pandemic’s aftermath intensified this pre-existing problem, pushing recruitment and retention of doctors to the brink of impossibility. The absence of sufficient staffing jeopardizes patient care, regardless of the doctors’ expertise, leaving them unable to deliver the necessary and deserved care. In such stressful conditions, doctors are more prone to experiencing burnout, hindering their ability to perform optimally.
We have substantial vacancies in many, if not most, public hospital departments across the Health + Hospitals system. The scarcity of physicians within the system has exacerbated the workload for those already in service, compelling them to extend their work hours beyond reasonable limits. This prolonged strain on the existing workforce has led to an alarming rise in cases of burnout among health care professionals.
The inability to effectively recruit and retain physicians has not only hampered the delivery of quality care but has also taken a toll on the well-being of those tirelessly working to uphold the health care infrastructure. In light of these pressing challenges, we are seeking out your support in addressing the urgent staffing needs within our health care system.
The physicians who work in the facilities that make up New York City’s Health + Hospitals are at a disadvantage relative to those who work in facilities owned by private entities. Compared to our counterparts in privately owned facilities, physicians within the city hospitals are notably under-resourced, receiving significantly lower compensation while grappling with perpetually short-staffed environments.
Despite these challenges, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing quality care to all, irrespective of background, economic status, immigration status, or identity. Our physicians serve as beacons of compassion and dedication, often sacrificing personal time and familial obligations for the betterment of their patients. Their unwavering dedication to serving the most vulnerable members of society underscores their selflessness and resilience in the face of adversity, embodying the true spirit of health care service
However, we are fortunate to be part of a union that understands our needs as physicians. The Doctors Council SEIU aims to create meaningful change that not only enhances the professional satisfaction and quality of life for our physicians but also bolsters the overall resilience and effectiveness of the public health care sector. By championing fair pay and dignified working conditions, the union seeks to fortify the foundation upon which the Health + Hospitals system rests, ensuring its capacity to continue serving the diverse health care needs of New York City’s residents.
We are fighting for a fair contract and are seeking the public’s support during our negotiations. I am proud to be part of this coalition of doctors in public service. Help us continue to have the ability to serve the communities we love. Call or email your City Council member or the mayor. Tell them the city’s doctors who service us deserve a fair contract that can help maintain the health care system.
The city hospitals need to be fully staffed. They need to recruit and retain the doctors who serve those most in need — those who have nowhere else to go for their health care needs.