HARRIS — A rotation of Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) employees gathered across the street from the Harris hospital Tuesday, turning Valentine's Day into a peaceful protest against what they say is chronic and unnecessary shortstaffing.

“There is a problem with retention,” contended Ana Vazquez, vice president of the 1199SEIU union which represents around 300 workers, ranging from housekeepers and registrars to certified nursing assistants and diagnostic imaging professionals.

“If you don't have enough staff,” she continued, “the only way our members can provide the care patients need is in the form of another shift.”

She was referring to double shifts, which have happened so often in the past year that the union organized Tuesday's candlelit vigil to bring more attention to their concerns.

“We had 150 workers at a chapter meeting,” Union Organizer Erica Callender recalled, where she heard stories of failed college classes, childcare difficulties and other major life disruptions from members mandated to work beyond their regular shifts.

balancing work, life

One of those is Luz Soto, who's spent 16 years as a surgical technician inside CRMC's operating room. For the past year, she's had to sometimes bring her five-year-old daughter Zaniah to work. Since there is no childcare at the hospital, Zaniah occupies herself in a waiting room for up to two hours while Luz attends to her duties.

“She doesn't have a choice - she's a working mom,” said coworker Debbie La Bounty, who's spent 26 years at CRMC and often fills in for Luz when she needs to pick up her daughter.

“We're shortstaffed, and they're not hiring,” Soto lamented. “They say we're not busy enough, but we're very busy!”

“People leave, and they don't replace them,” added La Bounty.

She and Soto haven't left - and they don't plan to.

“We're not going to do that, even if we're overworked,” Soto affirmed. “... We haven't walked away - that's not who we are.”

“We can't refuse,” she added - not because they fear being fired, she said, but because patient care has not and cannot be compromised.

“But they [management] know that,” argued La Bounty, “and they take advantage of that.”

Hospital responds

Not so, according to hospital spokesman Rob Lee.

“We take the staffing concerns very seriously and always place patient care and welfare at the highest priority,” Lee stated.

“CRMC maintains a core value of putting patients and families first. Sometimes, we must ask employees to delay, move, or miss a break because serving our patients' needs requires immediate attention. CRMC pays employees if their breaks are substantially interrupted.”

He added that any work over 40 hours a week is compensated via overtime pay, and that the hospital is fiscally sound.

“We have an obligation to employees, and to our community, to make fiscally responsible decisions regarding staffing which allow us to provide quality care to our patients.”

As to the immediate situation, Lee said the hospital just hired 22 new employees, and job vacancy rates at CRMC are “at an all-time low, averaging around three percent.”

“There have been no policy changes which negatively affect staffing,” he explained. “However, staffing is always based on volume and acuity of patients. We have had an influx of patients who do require more one-to-one care.

“The ideal number of employees is based on how many patients we have and the severity of illnesses of those patients,” he explained. “The patient census numbers are constantly fluctuating and staffed in the best manner possible to meet patient care needs. ... To achieve this, CRMC has focused on filling vacant positions through a variety of methods, including holding recruitment events and in-the-moment interviews for qualified applicants.”

More work to do

Vigil attendees contended that's not been enough.

“Morale here is low,” observed Monticello resident and businessman George Nikolados.

He's not an employee but has friends who are, and being a restaurateur, he sympathizes with the staffing challenges.

“I understand what it's like - it's hard on your family,” he remarked. “... But here, it's life-and-death situations.

“It's time to put people over profits,” he argued. “I hope they hire more people.”

Vazquez said it's not a request from spoiled or lazy people.

“Our members feel a compassion [for patients],” she stated. “They want to help the frail. They want to help the sick. But workers here are tired.”

“We'd like to get some help, some respect,” added La Bounty.

Lee said the hospital is not ignoring any concerns, though he contended it just found out about some.

“Management had met with the union as part of our labor management relationship,” he confirmed. “Some of the issues raised at [the] vigil had not been formally raised during prior discussions with management. CRMC continues to work hard to fill open positions and, as always, we strive to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care.

“We respect the union's right to voice issues they have at CRMC, provided it doesn't disrupt patient care,” Lee concluded. “Catskill Regional will continue to work collaboratively with the union to resolve any issues that employees have pertaining to staffing.