‘We shouldn’t have to ask to have PPE.’ SLO hospital workers picket for protective equipment
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center staff lined up with signs reading “We risk our lives to save yours,” near the San Luis Obispo hospital Thursday afternoon, calling for more personal protective equipment during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
About 30 essential workers, including hospital technicians and nursing support staff, formed a picket line on the corner of Murray Street and Santa Rosa Street as cars passing by honked in support.
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center surgical coordinator Teri Baro said she and other employees were there to call attention to a lack of access to masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment needed especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Here at Sierra Vista we have not had a lot of problems with not having enough (PPE),” Baro said. “But it’s (about) access to it. We shouldn’t have to ask to have PPE. We shouldn’t delay patient care and our safety because we don’t have PPE available.”
Baro said although Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has adequate personal protective equipment, it’s not readily available to all employees. Essential support staff are constantly having to ask for access to protective gear, Baro said.
“It gets better, but then we’re back to asking,” Baro said.
Employees at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, one of two San Luis Obispo County hospitals operated by Tenet Health Central Coast, were not alone in their plea.
The protest outside of the San Luis Obispo was one of 11 planned protests at Tenet Health hospitals across California this week.
In late May, the California Nurses Association protested a lack of personal protective equipment, and nurses came out in early-August to support legislation that could secure more PPE, according to KSBY.
This week’s demonstrations were being held by members of the Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers West. The healthcare union represents service, maintenance and some technical and professional employees, according to Tenet Health.
Tenet Health and the SEIU UHW have been in negotiations since May.
Baro said the union sent the hospital owners a more than 20-page document about their needs for PPE and are awaiting a reply.
In response to the picketing demonstration, Tenet Health Central Coast said they are not happy with the union’s approach to the issue.
“While we value all of our employees who are represented, we are disappointed that the union is taking this approach,” the healthcare company wrote in a statement. “We have only been bargaining with the union on a successor contract since May and will continue to negotiate in good faith in hopes of reaching a successful resolution.”
Do Tenet Health Central Coast hospitals have enough PPE?
Tenet Health Central Coast wrote in a statement that its hospitals have adequate personal protective equipment and it is “actively sourcing around the world for additional supplies.”
In previous statements to The Tribune, Tenet Health Central Coast has said that it follows the California Department of Public Health and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding personal protective equipment and use.
Although Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has not been short on supplies, Kimberly Evenson, a certified surgical technician at the hospital, said many people have to continually ask PPE.
“We want to work together with Tenet to find a resolution so we don’t have to keep searching or fighting for PPE, Evenson said. “We want to have enough PPE to protective equipment for all our staff to protect our staff, our patients and our community.”
Tenet Health Central Coast said they have sufficient PPE for all front-line workers who come into contact with patients.
Physicians, nurses and other caregivers who are directly in contact with coronavirus-positive patients are required to change their PPE prior to treating a non-COVID-19 patient, according to Tenet Health Central Coast.
Physicians, nurses and other employees only wear N95 masks and face shields or goggles when treating coronavirus patients or potential coronavirus patients, Tenet Health Central Coast said in a statement.
Evenson said she believes that PPE such as N95 masks, should be more accessible for all employees.
“Essentially everybody comes into contact with patients at some point or another, whether you’re checking them in or walking them through the front doors or if you’re involved in direct patient care, or in surgery,” she said.
Another demonstration was expected to take place Friday at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. according to a news release. That hospital is also operated by Tenet Health Central Coast.
