Jackson Health System and SEIU 1991 leadership praised the decision to end the effort to outsource services in the Emergency Room (ER) at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The recommendation by Jackson management will ensure that the physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs), who work in the Jackson Memorial Hospital ER and the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center, will remain Jackson employees.
“Reaching these decisions has been difficult. However, in the transformation of Jackson we always analyze our all of our business assumptions and latest data as we look for new opportunities to provide high quality healthcare at lower costs,” said Carlos A. Migoya, Jackson’s president and CEO. “In continuing that transformation we look for better ways to work with our labor groups, as well. This agreement is a testament to that work.”
“Keeping these critical public services in-house is absolutely what’s best for patients and Jackson’s bottom line. We applaud management for recognizing that,” said Martha Baker, RN, President of SEIU Local 1991, which represents the RNs, doctors and healthcare professionals at Jackson Health System.
The agreement is part of a global deal that settles a number of internal issues regarding staffing, scheduling and operations. It was reached Tuesday, January 15, just as the Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board (FRB) adjourned its monthly committee meeting. The financial components of the decision make it subject to approval by the FRB and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC).
Jackson would still have the option to explore contracting opportunities for services in the pediatric emergency room at Holtz Children’s Hospital and the emergency rooms at Jackson North Medical Center and Jackson South Community Hospital. If a third-party vendor were contracted to provide those services, current employees in those facilities would have the right to remain Jackson employees.
“This agreement is a win-win-win for Jackson’s healthcare workers, management and our patients,” said Baker.
