Nurses are the front line of healthcare for people across America. Recently, registered nurses in Vacaville and Vallejo stood up for patient care in their communities. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) reported that Kaiser RNs rallied on October 3 to protest the proposed elimination of minor injury clinics at their facilities.
Kaiser has recently been cutting services in the Bay Area. In addition to minor injury clinics, reductions have been made in area pediatric, after-hours, and urgent-care clinics. Nurses' anger was provoked by recently announced Kaiser first quarter profits. In this quarter, Kaiser's profits jumped 72 percent over last year, an increase from $250 million to $432 million. With such outstanding numbers, nurses think the Company should maintain such crucial services as urgent-care facilities.
"The closure of the minor injury clinic and reduction of after-hours clinic care will have a negative impact on our community. Our residents depend on these clinics for healthcare needs that occur after 5 p.m. and on weekends," said Gina Macalino, RN. " These changes will push many patients into a frequently impacted emergency department or into a later appointment during the week, causing delays in care and creating unnecessary risks to our members. In this time when families struggle to make ends meet, imposing a more expensive emergency department co-pay for services patients can receive in a minor injury clinic is unacceptable."
The protest occurred on Saturday, October 3 from 11:00am until 1:00pm. RNs met at Kaiser-Vacaville to voice their concern about the reduction of clinic hours and services.