Press Release: St. Francis Nurses Plan to Hold New Management Accountable for Patient Safety in Lynwood

December 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2015                                                   

St. Francis Nurses Plan to Hold New Management Accountable for Patient Safety in Lynwood

LYNWOOD—BlueMountain Capital Management will assume governance of Daughters of Charity Health System’s hospital chain that includes St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC) in Lynwood, after agreeing today to conditions set by California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

“Our main concern through this process has been the continuity of care to patients in our community. That has been the driving factor in our determination and presence at public hearings held by the Attorney General all over California. We are pleased BlueMountain has accepted the conditions and we look forward to working together with BlueMountain/Integrity to improve patient care at St. Francis,” says Scott Byington, RN, President of St. Francis Registered Nurses Association (SFRNA).

California Attorney General Kamala Harris provisionally approved Daughters of Charity Health System’s change of governance to BlueMountain and Integrity Health Care, LLC on December 3, 2015. Attorney General Harris's approval was required for the system's governance to change hands.

Registered nurses at St. Francis Medical Center are represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). The Attorney General’s conditions on the change of governance include safeguards to both the community and employees to ensure continuity of care.

“St. Francis registered nurses are committed to serving patients and the community. UNAC/UHCP is pleased with the protection of member jobs and pensions," said Denise Duncan, RN, Executive Vice President of UNAC/UHCP. “We’ll continue to hold new hospital management accountable. We’re cautiously optimistic and will continue to make sure our patients are protected.”

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The St. Francis Registered Nurses Association (SFRNA) is an affiliate of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). UNAC/UHCP represents over 25,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals, including optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners. UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO.