Media Advisory
MNA Nurses Will Deliver Demands to Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Regarding MHealth Fairview's Plans for Bethesda Hospital
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(St. Paul) - October 17, 2020 - MNA nurses will be delivering demands to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners regarding MHealth Fairview's plans to lease Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul to the county on Monday, October 19, at 4 p.m.
The proposal is part of the plans MHealth Fairview recently announced to close Bethesda hospital, the only COVID-19 specialty hospital in the area, as well as critically necessary community clinics and other services at St. Joseph's hospital. They are using the COVID-19 crisis as a cover to justify the elimination of vital healthcare services to the St. Paul community, and these plans will also create the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Ramsey County has indicated that they are interested in leasing Bethesda Hospital to turn it into a transitional shelter for unhoused people. The Board will meet to vote on the proposal on Tuesday, October 20, at 9 a.m.
"We support any real effort to provide housing for the homeless," said Melissa Kadrmas, a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital. "However, we don't trust MHealth Fairview, and we worry that their ill-thought-out plan is to provide them cover for closing a facility, laying-off nurses, and eliminating key services. We are interested in seeing long term results, not just a bandage."
MNA nurses will deliver their demands to the Board in an effort to strengthen the planned lease so that MHealth Fairview cannot leave Ramsey County in the lurch. The demands would provide some accountability, transparency, and security to ensure that moving forward, patients, the community, nurses, and other workers aren't further devastated by this closure; and that MHealth Fairview holds up their end of the deal and their word that this is about patients and not profits.
When: Monday, October 19 at 4 p.m.
Where: St. Paul City Hall
15 West Kellogg Blvd St. Paul, MN 55102
Who: MNA nurses who are concerned about MHealth Fairview's plans to
lease Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul to Ramsey County
What: Delivery of demands
Why: To demand accountability from MHealth Fairview and the Ramsey County
Commissioners for sustainable and long-term solutions the serve the
St. Paul community
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Note: The program will take place outside, where nurses and attendees will practice 6 feet of social distancing. Additionally, for reporters who are uncomfortable attending the event in person or who are themselves practicing self-quarantine measures, the event will be streaming here: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaNurses/
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About MNA:
With more than 22,000 members in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, MNA is the leading organization for registered nurses in the Midwest and is among the oldest and largest representatives of RNs for collective bargaining in the nation. Established in 1905, MNA is a multi-purpose organization that fosters high standards for nursing education and practice, and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United.
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About NNU:
National Nurses United, with close to 185,000 members in every state, is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history.
NNU was founded in 2009 unifying three of the most active, progressive organizations in the U.S.—and the major voices of unionized nurses—in the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association. |
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