11.02.2001

Nurses Warn Cuts Will Endanger Patients—Hospital States It Would Rather Spend $3 Million on Parking Gararge

Below is coverage of registered nurses' response to North Adams Regional Hospital's plan to cut 27% of the nursing staff, resulting in a ratio of one nurse to 12 patients, and which rely on secretaries to answer call lights and serve as first responders to codes. The hospital claims it needs to gut its nursing staff to save money. But what has it chosen to spend its money on recently? Here is an explanation from the story below: The hospital has relied on its financial reserve to fund $3 million in campus improvements, including a new, three-level parking garage. But using the reserve to cushion operating expenses would threaten its long-term financial stability, Hopkins said. That's right, North Adams Regional Hospital would rather give patients better parking than a registered nurse. Given findings of recent nursing research, the bad news is, under the hospital's proposal the chances are your mother will spend a longer time in the hospital, or be readmitted due to complications resulting from inadequate nursing care. The good news is you will have an easier time finding a parking spot when you come to visit. No wonder that hospital industry is in crisis.

Read the story here.