An Open Letter from the Physicians of Lenox Hill Hospital

Dr. Daniel Baker, Ex Dir of Lenox Hill Hospital, Daniel Bellis, Deputy Ex Dir of MEETH, & Tracy Feiertag, Deputy Ex Dir of LHGV

To LHH/MEETH/LHGV Physicians:

On behalf of the registered nurses at Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital, and Lenox Health Greenwich Village, represented by the New York Professional Nurses Union, we are reaching out to seek your support in our ongoing efforts to secure a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement. As you are well aware, nurses are the backbone of patient care, and we have always worked closely with our physician colleagues to ensure the best outcomes for those we serve. However, we are currently facing significant challenges in our negotiations with hospital administration, and we believe that your voice and influence could help bridge the divide.

Despite our best efforts to negotiate in good faith, several key issues remain unresolved:

  1. Wages and Compensation: Registered nurses continue to face compensation that is not only below the standards set by other hospitals in the area but also fails to reflect the critical nature and intensity of the work we perform daily.

  2. Staffing Levels: Safe patient care and nurse well-being are inextricably linked. Adequate nurse-to-patient ratios are essential for safe, high-quality care and the overall health of nurses. Staffing levels must reflect acuity and census, and when they fall short, it puts an immense strain on nurses, leading to burnout and turnover. The collective effect of this strain has a long-term implications for both patient outcomes and staff morale. Adequate nurse-to-patient ratios that nurses can depend on are essential for safe, high-quality care and the overall health of our workforce.

  3. Working Conditions: We are deeply concerned about workplace safety, the lack of essential resources, and the administration’s proposal to eliminate clinical division definitions, which provide crucial safeguards for nurses when floating between units. The Administration is even looking for nurses to float between all three LHH campuses. These changes would further erode the protective structures that ensure both nurse and patient safety.

While a strike is always a last resort, we feel we have no choice but to prepare for this action if progress cannot be made. It is with a heavy heart that we recently issued the hospital a legally required ten-day notice of our intent to strike as of November 4th. Our goal remains to avoid any disruption to patient care by securing a fair and reasonable contract that recognizes the value of our work and the importance of a safe Jo environment for both nurses and patients.

We ask for your support at this critical time. Please add your name to the open letter and consider reaching out to the hospital administration and the Board of Trustees to encourage them to come to the table with a commitment to fair treatment for nurses. Your partnership in this effort could make all the difference in achieving a swift and positive resolution.

Thank you for your consideration and any assistance you can offer to help secure a contract that upholds the dignity and safety of our profession.


To: Dr. Daniel Baker, Ex Dir of Lenox Hill Hospital, Daniel Bellis, Deputy Ex Dir of MEETH, & Tracy Feiertag, Deputy Ex Dir of LHGV
From: [Your Name]

As physicians who work alongside the registered nurses of Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, and Lenox Health Greenwich Village, we feel compelled to address the current negotiations between hospital administration and our nursing colleagues. As you know, we share a deep commitment to providing the highest quality of care to our patients, and the role of nurses in achieving this cannot be overstated. We are writing to express our strong support for the registered nurses in their efforts to secure a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.

We understand that these negotiations are complex, but we believe the issues raised by the nurses are critical to the well-being of both our patients and the healthcare team as a whole.

Specifically:

Wages and Compensation: Our nurses are essential to the functioning of this hospital, yet they face compensation that does not reflect the critical work they do or align with what is offered by other hospitals in our area. Fair pay is not just a matter of equity, but also a crucial factor in retaining the skilled professionals who care for our patients every day.

Staffing Levels: Safe nurse-to-patient ratios are fundamental to quality care. We witness firsthand the strain that inadequate staffing places on nurses, which, in turn, affects patient outcomes. It is imperative that staffing levels reflect best practices, ensuring both the safety of our patients and the sustainability of our workforce.

Working Conditions and Clinical Division Definitions: Nursing is a highly skilled profession, and nurses require the right mix of skills and experience to provide the best care, especially when floating between units. The proposal to eliminate clinical division definitions is concerning because it compromises nurses' ability to deliver safe, effective care. Floating nurses without clinical division guard rails undermines both nurse confidence and patient safety. We strongly believe that nurses must feel confident and competent in the areas they are asked to work, and current protocols prioritize these critical factors.

The possibility of a strike is a troubling outcome that we all wish to avoid. However, we also understand that without addressing these fundamental issues, the situation may deteriorate further, potentially leading to staff shortages, increased burnout, and negative impacts on patient care.

As physicians, we are deeply invested in the well-being of our patients, and we believe that supporting the nurses in this critical moment is in the best interest of patient care. A failure to resolve these issues will likely lead to further challenges, including staffing shortages, increased burnout, and a decline in the quality of care.

Dr. Baker, as a fellow physician, you understand the unique challenges that healthcare workers face. We urge you, along with the Board of Trustees and the administration, to recognize the legitimacy of the nurses’ concerns and work toward a resolution that reflects the respect and value they deserve.

We stand with the nurses not just as colleagues but as advocates for a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient safety, supports the well-being of its staff, and fosters a culture of collaboration. We hope that, with your leadership, these negotiations can come to a swift and fair resolution.

Thank you for your time and consideration.