TODAY: Nurses Lead Rally At PeaceHealth Sacred Heart In Springfield (Photo) - 04/10/23
MEDIA ADVISORY: Local nurses from Eugene, Springfield and the surrounding areas will be joined by Congresswoman Val Hoyle, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, ONA President Tamie Cline and community allies in a rally for safe staffing Monday, April 10 from 3 - 6 p.m. outside PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, OR. Speakers will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m.
WHAT: Hundreds of local nurses and health care providers are leading a rally to demand PeaceHealth address its staffing crisis and give nurses and patients the support and conditions they need to thrive.
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart has nearly 300 nurse vacancies–leaving emergency department patients and their loved ones waiting hours before seeing a provider or being admitted to the hospital and delaying emergency response times as ambulances line up to hand off patients.
Nurses will be joined by local elected leaders, worker advocates and community allies.
WHEN: Monday, April 10 from 3 - 6 p.m. Speakers will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Nurses and advocates will be available for media comment during the event.
WHERE: The intersection of MLK Blvd. and Cardinal Way in Springfield, OR. Outside PeaceHealth Sacred Heart RiverBend (3333 Riverbend Dr, Springfield, OR 97477).
WHO: Frontline nurses from PeaceHealth Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Home Care Services along with other health care providers, elected officials and community allies including:
- Congresswoman Val Hoyle
- Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
- Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association President Dr. Charlotte Yeomans
- ONA President Tamie Cline
- ONA Sacred Heart Medical Center Chair Chris Rompala
- ONA Sacred Heart Medical Home Care Services Chair Jo Turner
- Worker advocates
- Community allies
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Home Care Services.
WHY: ONA nurses are standing up for safety to improve health care for our patients and our community. PeaceHealth’s corporate executives have chosen to cut local care, close clinics, and refuse to staff safely. PeaceHealth Sacred Heart currently has nearly 300 vacant nursing positions. Fewer nurses means Eugene-area patients and families pay more for worse care. Decades of research prove, safe nurse staffing is the best medicine money can buy. Studies show adding just one nurse to a health care team can decrease the odds of a patient dying by 6-16%.
Conversely, when hospital executives refuse to staff safely, patients and communities suffer. When staffing isn’t safe, you and your loved ones have longer wait times and more expensive hospital stays; there are more in-hospital infections and injuries; patients are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital; and patients are ultimately more likely to die.
Local nurses are calling on PeaceHealth’s executives in Washington to do the right thing and adopt safe staffing standards as part of a fair contract agreement for nurses and our community.
Nurses invite community members to attend the rally to talk with local nurses and hear how decisions made by PeaceHealth’s corporate executives are affecting your health care.
The rally is a family and pet-friendly event. It will be held rain-or-shine. Attendees are asked to follow guidance from designated rally officials and safety personnel.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Home Care Services. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
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