St. Vincent Hospital says nurses' strike has not affected patient care; union has 'no comment'

WORCESTER - As the nurses’ strike at St. Vincent Hospital reaches the one-month milestone Thursday, the hospital reported that increasing patient volumes show the strike has not affected its ability to care for patients. 

“The procedural volume increases St. Vincent Hospital experienced in March were in line with what was projected before the strike notice was delivered,” St. Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson said in a statement. “The strike has not affected our ability to accommodate the patients seeking procedural care as state-wide restrictions were removed.  Patients have continued to choose St. Vincent Hospital for their care as they have historically.” 

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents striking nurses, said it didn’t trust the hospital’s report. 

“We have no comment about anything that Carolyn Jackson and (hospital owner, Tenet Healthcare) says,” David Schildmeier, a spokesman for the MNA, said, citing past incidents of civil and criminal charges against the company. “They have no credibility.” 

Nurses went on strike March 8 after two years of contract negotiations between the union and Tenet Healthcare, the Dallas-based owners of St. Vincent Hospital, failed.  

Staffing is the main issue of contention. 

Nurses have said the predominantly 1-to-5 ratio of nurses to patients on certain floors is unsafe; St. Vincent management and the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association have blasted what they called “rigid” and “mandatory” staffing ratios and have pushed back against allegations the hospital is unsafe. 

The hospital has remained open during the strike, meanwhile, with traveling nurses brought in to replace those on the picket line.  

According to a hospital press release on Wednesday, the strike has not resulted in any change in expected patient volumes:  

• The average inpatient census is 210, and more than 950 outpatients are served each day – a 15 percent patient volume increase since February. 
• Surgeries and procedures have continued and have reached 20 percent more patients than in February.  
• More than 160 babies have been born at the hospital since the strike began.  
• Last week the emergency department cared for more patients than it did the week before the strike.  
• The number of COVID-19 vaccinations provided by the hospital, including at the Worcester Vaccine Clinic, exceeded 49,000. 

“We have had no quality or safety issues that would adversely affect operations, and our care has remained virtually uninterrupted by the strike," Lisa Beaudry, the hospital’s chief nursing officer said in a statement. 

The press release added that “the patient census reflects that the community remains confident in the hospital’s care.”    

The hospital also said that an additional 12 nurses have crossed the picket line since March 8, representing 16 percent of nurses.  

Schildmeier disputed that percentage, saying more than 800 nurses are represented by the union. 

“When you have 90 percent of nurses outside the hospital, you are failing as an administration,” he said in response.