Press Case to Keep Open Daughters of Charity Hospitals, Preserve Vital Healthcare Services

With growing concern over the threatened closure of hospitals in the San Jose and Los Angeles metro areas, registered nurses will hold a vigil Friday afternoon at O'Connor Hospital in San Jose to urge state officials to take the steps needed to preserve the hospitals for public safety.

Dozens of RNs will participate in the vigil, joined by nuns associated with the Daughters of Charity Health System, which currently operates the hospitals.

What: Vigil to Keep Hospitals Open
When: Today - Friday, December 12, 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Where: O'Connor Hospital, 2105 Forest Avenue, San Jose

In October, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United reached an agreement with Prime Healthcare, which is seeking to buy the hospitals. The agreement includes a pledge to keep open for at least five years O'Connor, Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, Seton Medical Center in Daly City, and St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Under the agreement, Prime also promised it has no intention of reducing patient services or taking actions that would put the services at risk, as well as respecting collective bargaining rights, jobs, pension rights and existing labor standards at the hospitals covered by the pact.

Another potential buyer, Blue Wolf Capital, a Wall Street private equity firm, refused to commit to keeping open the hospitals, protecting patient services, or honoring employee contracts or existing labor standards.

CNA members have held rallies with local community leaders and patients demanding that the hospitals be maintained and kept open for their patients.

They warn that others who are opposing the sale are jeopardizing efforts to keep the hospitals open that would leave hundreds of thousands of people who live near the San Jose and Los Angeles area hospitals without local access to vital hospital and emergency care services.

"Nothing is more critical than assuring our long time patients and area residents that they can continue to count on their trusted hospitals and caregivers to be there when they need them," said Maria Canonizado, an O'Connor Hospital RN.

"Selling to Prime is the only option that allows us to keep our promises to our patients, associates, physicians and community" said Sister Trinitas Hernandez.

CNA says it will vigorously call on all elected leaders to join efforts to maintain the hospitals, patient services, and collective bargaining rights for RNs and other employees.

"Those who oppose this sale without offering an alternative that would protect our patients and our communities are putting everyone at risk. Nurses will not be silent in the face of this emergency," said CNA Co-President Zenei Cortez, RN.