A change in the “on call” pay structure for operating room nurses recently provoked protests at a North Sonoma County Health Care District meeting, led by two physicians and the department’s director.
Although the pay changes were made in July, recent resignations by one or more long time nurses prompted one doctor to call the situation a “pending crisis.” Dr. Robert Pousman told the district directors “this is not a back burner issue.” He said more nurses were looking to defect over a cut in pay related to “call back” or standby duty with a new hourly rate of $6.42 paid to nurses who “stand by” to be called in if needed.
Healdsburg District Hospital interim CEO Joe Harrington, appointed just over one month ago, held meetings last month with the concerned nurses.
“I did most of the listening,” said Harrington in his meeting with about eight nurses and support staff. “I think there is a wide discrepancy in comparing us to other hospitals.” He said the hospital adjusted many salaries in July, based on a statewide survey of hospitals. “I think there was some erroneous information given. Some of our nurses have friends working at other hospitals” and may be doing unequal comparisons.
The bottom line, Harrington said was, “We’re never going to be competitive with the nearby larger hospitals and we have to maintain affordability at our institution. Our finances are not that good right now.”
Harrington and the nurses are planning a follow up meeting. “Hopefully we stay as competitive as possible and offer a better work experience.”
Longtime hospital surgeon John Tomasin told the district directors some of his nurses have resorted to taking second jobs driving for Uber. “I think it’s a crisis point. If we have to find replacements we will end up paying more and we won’t get the same talent.”
District board chair James Nantell acknowledged the doctors’ concerns but said, “The reality is we have to compete with the Kaisers and Sutters. We’re at a disadvantage.”
Harrington replaced hospital CEO Nancy Schmid, who served from April 2013 until last month. Upon her departure Nantell said the district, “owes a debt of gratitude to Schmid and her work to reverse the downward spiral of the finances of our hospital.”
Harrington was recruited out of retirement after serving at Lodi Memorial, an affiliate with Adventist Health West. Part of the interim CEO’s charge is to lead a search for strategic partners or new ownership structures through 2018. Currently Harrington said no specific partners have been identified or approached.
The Healdsburg District Hospital has been community-owned since 2000 when north county voters created the North Sonoma County Health Care District and supported an annual parcel tax to subsidize the hospital’s operations. The district includes Windsor, Healdsburg, Geyserville and Cloverdale.
Not unlike nearby smaller hospitals, HDH has struggled financially and once filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005.
After losing $9 million in 2014, the hospital has recorded two years of $1.7 million annual losses. District taxpayers contributed just over $3 million in parcel taxes each year, creating a positive bottom line in 2015 and 2016.
