UMass Nurses Cast “No Confidence” Vote in Chief Nursing Officer

Friday, July 11, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Registered nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University Campus have cast an overwhelming “no confidence” vote in their Chief Nursing Officer, Diane Thompson, by a 60 to 1 margin.

The nurses hand delivered a letter to UMMMC CEO Eric Dickson, displaying their vote and the outrage over the “punitive organizational culture” that is leading to a “serious deterioration in the quality of patient care.”

“We wish we didn’t have to take this step, but we feel we have no choice given what is happening to our hospital under the current nursing administration,” said Margaret McLoughlin, a long time RN at the facility and co-chair of the nurses’ local bargaining unit with the MNA. “Morale has never been lower at this hospital, nurses feel disrespected on every level, and recent changes impact our ability to provide the care our patients deserve. We are the heart and soul of this hospital, we provide 90 percent of the clinical care, and we want out new CEO to understand how we feel about the environment his administration has created.”

Registered nurses who posted the “no confidence” vote in the level one trauma center want the hospital’s CEO to be aware of how upset they are with the current conditions and their displeasure in the elimination of positions and programs. Nurses are fearful that the working conditions are leading to unsafe patient environments.

Concerns About Hospital Environment

According to the letter, Thompson has increased nursing assignments on a number of floors against the nurses’ wishes, eliminated a number of staff positions including the IV therapy team, and unilaterally changed shifts and hours of work for nurses.

Nurses are very concerned that these changes are affecting both patients and nurses, creating an unsavory environment which will ultimately be dangerous for patients moving forward. Ultimately, nurses are upset that the hospital has seemingly shifted from focusing on patients to focusing on profits.

“Not so long ago RNs here believed that UMass was a good place to work,” said McLoughlin. “Our patients were among the sickest in the country and there was pride in the care provided. We felt we were part of a team and were respected by physicians and administrators alike. In recent years we believe that has changed as our administration has embraced a profit-focused manufacturing model of hospital operations that we believe disregards nurse’s serious concerns over issues impacting their practice of professional nursing.”

Hospital in Support

While nurses and the Massachusetts Nurses Association may lack confidence and support for their Chief Nursing Officer, UMass Memorial has stuck behind Diane Thompson, affirming that her goal is to provide safe and high quality patient care.

Hospital executives feel that UMass is providing quality care for patients regardless of the transformative changes of the health care industry and the hospital. The entire staff, says the administration, is committed to providing top level care to all patients.

“Diane Thompson is the consummate nursing leader and professional,” said Patrick Muldoon, President of the UMass Memeorial Medical Center. “She has a distinguished record of leading meaningful change and using evidence-based research to dramatically increase patient safety and experience. UMass Memorial Medical Center is extremely fortunate to have such a committed patient advocate on our team and we support her 100%.”

Related Slideshow: Central MA Non-Profit Hospital CEO Pay, From Least To Most

Here are the total annual compensation amounts for the CEOs of the four non-profit hospital groups in Central Massachusetts. The source is each hospital group’s latest available 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, which is filed with the IRS and available at Guidestar.org. The CEOs are shown here, from lowest to highest total compensation.

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#4 Winfield Brown

Salary: $192,828

President and CEO, Heywood Healthcare, with campuses in Athol and Gardner

Note: Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital and Athol Memorial Hospital merged in January 2013 to form Heywood Health Care. Brown, who had been president and CEO of Athol Memorial, became head of Heywood Health Care in August 2011. Daniel Moen, who had been president and CEO of Henry Heywood Memorial, was terminated in January 2011. His total compensation for fiscal 2011 was $993,456.

Latest available 1099 filing: Athol Memorial

Latest available 1099 filing: Henry Heywood Memorial

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#3 Edward Moore

Salary: $461,607

President and CEO, Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge

Latest available 1099 filing

Prev Next

#2 Francis Saba

Salary: $603,232

CEO, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford

Latest available 1099 filing

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#1 John O'Brien

Salary: $2,358,455

Former President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care, with campuses in Worcester, Clinton, Leominster, Marlboro and Palmer

Note: John O’Brien retired as president and CEO in January 2013. Dr. Eric Dickson, MD, became the new president and CEO the following month. The UMass Memorial news release announcing Dickson’s appointment did not include his compensation package. According to UMass Memorial’s latest available 1099 form, Dickson received a total of $650,589 in compensation during the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2012.

Latest available 1099 filing