Judge Rules Washington Hospital Center Broke Federal Labor Law

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Judge Rules Washington Hospital Center Broke Federal Labor Law(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)In a rebuke to MedStar Washington Hospital Center (WHC) management, an administrative law judge ruled last week that WHC broke federal labor law when it refused to provide information about hospital staffing patterns and patient safety survey information to registered nurses. National Nurses United, which represents WHC nurses, filed the charges after nurses complained of a decline in patient safety standards at the region’s largest hospital. “Nurses have a critical duty to advocate in the exclusive interest of our patients,” said Lori Marlowe, RN, chair of the Professional Practice and Patient Safety Council at Washington Hospital Center. “Nurses will never waive our duty to be patient advocates due to management’s embarrassment about their patient safety and staffing record. Judge Amchan’s ruling is vindication for the nurses who are standing up for improved patient care.” The ruling comes as the Council of the District of Columbia returns from recess poised to consider the Patient Protection Act (PPA) of 2013. The PPA would require all District hospitals to prioritize patient safety by implementing mandatory, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios on all hospital units at all times according to patient need. Hospitals that violate safe staffing standards would be fined. photo: at the June 13 City Council hearing on the PPA; photo by Chris Garlock/Union City

 

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