Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/633033
67 CARE DELIVERY Michigan Health System Fires 68 CRNAs Over Outsourcing Dispute By Tamara Rosin W arren, Mich.-based St. John Providence Health System has terminated the contracts of 68 nurse anesthetists at two of its hospitals after they repeatedly rejected terms offered under a new outside contractor, according to the Detroit Free Press. The hospitals — Providence Park Hospital in Novi, Mich., and Providence Park Hospital in Southfield, Mich., — are now staffed with anesthesiologists brought by the new contractor. The contractor is called PSJ Anesthesia, a newly founded company affiliated with Dominick Lago, MD, an anesthesiologist at both hospitals. The health system said it will remain with its decision to outsource the nurses, de- spite previous warnings by the nurses they would stage a walk out tonight at midnight. The 68 nonunionized nurses repeat- edly rejected the terms for new contracts under PSJ Anesthe- sia for reasons unrelated to pay, attorney David Shea, who is representing the nurses, told the Detroit Free Press. The new contracts offered the nurses similar pay but differ- ent work rules and regulations around sched- uling, as well as what the nurses con- sidered insufficient disclosure on other policies and procedures, according to the report. They also had a problem with working under Dr. Lago and his new company. "They would rather lose their jobs than work for PSJ," Mr. Shea said, according to the report. "And now the question for Providence is, 'What is more important for them, PSJ or their nurses?'" St. John Providence issued a statement saying it plans to continue to transition its nurse anesthesia services at both hospitals to PSJ Anesthesia. n Medicine hopes to recruit more mi- nority students "to better reflect the communities we serve," according to Edward Ellison, MD, executive medical director of Southern California Perma- nente Medical Group. "We anticipate them going out into the communities and spending time with patients in the communities from which they come," he added. 8. Like other medical schools across the nation, the Kaiser Permanen- te School of Medicine will strive to change traditional medical education. In addition to focusing on research, Kaiser's medical school will include more real-world, hands-on experience for students. is effort, which is being adopted by medical schools through- out the nation, will be built around two years of science followed by two years of clinical work. "e physician will not be sitting in a lecture hall like I did," said Dr. Ellison. "It's taking a different approach, turning the model almost upside down." 9. e decision has been met with some skepticism. Establishing a med- ical school is "fraught with risk" and could be a "huge waste of money" if the school turns into a specialty-focused academic medical center, according to John Deane, president of Advisory Board Consulting and Management. "On the other hand, they have an op- portunity to do this in a new and dif- ferent way that could be a form of dis- ruptive innovation that could become a new standard for teaching doctors." 10. Kaiser Permanente by the num- bers. Kaiser — whose annual revenue last year was $56.4 billion — has ap- proximately 10.2 million members, 80 percent of whom are in California. e nonprofit health system runs 38 hospi- tals, owns hundreds of clinics and has almost 18,000 physicians on salary. It operates in eight states and the District of Columbia. n Sell Your Surplus Surgical Inventory to eSutures.com Contact us today to get started! 888-416-2409 • info@esutures.com In only a few days, you can turn excess inventory into usable capital with our streamlined and simple process. For more information, or to begin the bid process, please call 888-416-2409 or email info@esutures.com. Don't let your extra product inventory go to waste! eSutures.com is interested in purchasing your in-date, short-dated and expired products in full selling units, open boxes and even individual, loose units. WE CAN PURCHASE: • Ethicon Suture • Ethicon Endosurgery • Covidien Suture • Covidien Endosurgery • Synthes • Arthrex • Bard • Gore • Masimo • Applied Medical and more! CARE DELIVERY