From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Nurses at SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Dane County have voted by a 71% margin to form a union, organizers announced, urging the employer to “respect their vote” and begin contract negotiations.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the health care system said SSM Health respects the nurses’ decision and is committed to working constructively through the process ahead, though “we would have preferred an outcome that allowed us to continue working directly with our nurses.”
SEIU Wisconsin says the 340 nurses employed at 10 Dean Medical Group outpatient clinics now have “a united voice” to advocate for better staffing, compensation and supportive policies for nurses.
In a release, the labor union says the nurses are now urging SSM Health leadership to “stop wasting resources on a campaign to try to silence their voices” amid the unionization effort. The union describes an “urgent crisis” of understaffing and burnout at the clinics, as well as experienced nurses leaving.
After filing a petition for the union election in early August, nurses began voting Sept. 22 and results were counted Friday night, according to SEIU. The vote comes after hundreds of nurses employed at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital also voted in favor of unionizing in June.
Kat Doebler, a nurse who works in SSM Health Outpatient Surgery Center, blames executives at the Missouri-based health system for setting policies that force nurses to do more with fewer and fewer resources.
“This intense focus of extracting corporate profits out of us has led to burnout and the loss of some of our very best nurses,” Doebler said in a statement provided by the union. “It’s time for the nurses who actually take care of patients to have a seat at the table in the decisions that affect our jobs and how we provide that care.”
The health system’s spokesperson thanked the nurses who participated in the National Labor Relations Board election, saying SSM Health is grateful for their dedication and the care they provide.
“Together, we will continue supporting our patients, serving our communities, and advancing our Mission of providing exceptional health care services to all,” the spokesperson said in an email.
See the union’s release below.
— State health officials today announced an expanded effort to train mental health professionals in Wisconsin in order to prevent more suicide deaths.
The Department of Health Services says it’s extended an existing four-year partnership with Aspirus Health in Wausau while forming a new one with CALM America, which stands for Counseling on Access to Lethal Means.
In a statement on the move, Gov. Tony Evers said elements of this effort will help more providers and community members recognize “warning signs” for suicide and improve healthcare access.
“Both partnerships reduce and remove the stigma around mental health discussions and strongly encourage the kind of open and honest conversations that can save lives,” he said in the release.
Aspirus will work to train local providers on methods for assessing people who may be considering suicide and persuading them against it while helping them connect with help. Another element of the effort will focus on improving telehealth-based services.
DHS notes men over age 25 in rural parts of Wisconsin have the highest rates of suicide, and newly expanded efforts aim to help members of this population, who often have more limited access to care resources.
See the release below.
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– Department of Health Services: Unveils new, expanded partnerships to prevent suicide in Wisconsin
