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UVM Medical Center Changed Its Policy on Patient Observation. Some Staff Worry About Patient Safety.
The hospital says the change will keep licensed nursing assistants on direct care as unions warn it leaves 17 sitters per shift for 14 units and the emergency department.
- UVM Medical Center in Burlington implemented a new policy in June limiting LNAs from serving as patient sitters, instead prioritizing remote patient monitoring or designated staff for supervising vulnerable patients.
- Financial pressures drove the change as UVM Health proposed $140 million in expense cuts for the coming fiscal year, with UVMMC projected to operate at a $43 million loss beginning Oct. 1.
- Staff report five patient safety incidents where patients lacked appropriate sitters, according to LNA Brett Rhodes. The hospital now staffs only 17 CPSAs per shift across 14 inpatient units and the emergency department.
- On Aug. 20, labor union representatives sent a cease and desist letter to UVM Health requesting the hospital pause the policy changes, stating they impede ongoing contract negotiations.
- The support staff union including LNAs has worked on an expired contract since mid-August, while management asserts the policy remains within UVM Health's contractual authority despite staff concerns over patient safety.
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UVM Medical Center changed its policy on patient observation. Some staff worry about patient safety.
In June, UVM Medical Center quietly rolled out a new policy dictating how its staff watch over patients who are at risk of hurting themselves while they’re in the hospital.
·New York, United States
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UVM Medical Center quietly changed its policy for patient observation. Some staff are worried about patient safety.
The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington on November 2020. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger In June, UVM Medical Center quietly rolled out a new policy dictating how its staff watch over patients who are at risk of hurting themselves while they’re in the hospital. Sitters, or clinical patient safety attendants — CPSAs — stay with patients who need supervision. Patients who might fall, wander or pull out IVs are often assigned …
·Montpelier, United States
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 36%
14%
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