Thursday, August 26, 2004

What Are They Hiding?

Well just when you think things can’t get any stranger, they do. Today representatives from State Senator Figueroa’s office, and staff from Assembly Member's Ellen Corbet, Wilma Chan and John Dutra’s office along with County Supervisor Steele and staff from Supervisor Carson and Lai-Bitker’s office all came with union representatives to tour Highland Hospital and speak with hospital employees.

They were met in the lobby by the Cambio Health Solutions team, the temporary executive staff and Cambio’s attorney. The politicians were told they could not tour the facility without a Cambio escort. This resulted in a heated exchange between County Supervisor Steele and a herd of tall suited men. The consultants maintained that patient privacy would be compromised if politicians walked through patient care floors. Staff found this a little odd since they sent a documentary film crew through a couple months ago with just a PR guy. In the spirit of compromise and in an effort to get out of the lobby, the state and local politicos agreed to only visit outpatient areas and to do so under the supervision of a sheriff’s deputy.

Patients and staff were really disappointed when the standoff in the lobby broke up, and no one is quite sure what the consultants were trying to hide.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Want to know what Cambio is hiding? I can tell you. I am just an RN but, I can tell you what I would hide from the politicos that I have to see everyday. I can't get food for my patients, everyday. I can't get my meds on time to my patients, everyday. I can't get basic supplies to take care of my patients, everyday. I can't get clean linens for my patients, everyday. I can't get charts from medical records for my patients, everyday. I can't provide safe and competent care to my patients, everyday. I can't get blood products for my patients, everyday. I can't get critical labs for my patients, everyday. I can't get xrays or CT scans for my patients, everyday. I am forced to work with registry and travelers who could care less about our policies and procedures, everyday. I cannot and will not blame these problems on their various departments, as it is not the frontline providers who are to blame. Well, who do you blame. That I can tell you. Cambio and the executive team are aware of these problems as I have spoken to several of them personally. The Board of Trustees are aware of these problems as I have spoken to several of them personally also. Gail Steele is aware of these problems as I have spoken to her pesonally as well. Our Chief Nurse Executive is aware of these problems as I have, along with others on many, many occasions brougt these problems to her attention. We as frontline care givers must focus our anger and frustration on those who perpetuate the persistant and very dangerous environment we are forced to work in. At least those of us who are left. I applaude my co workers for the committment they have to our patients. We are not the problem, we are the solution. The Emporer has no clothes and it is a very ugly sight. WE ALL MUST BAND TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THE SAFE AND DIGNIFIED CARE OUR PATIENTS DESERVE EACH AND EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!! Lynne Behr RN