Immediate Release: October 16, 2017
Contact: Mindy Berman | 518.229.0486 | nynursinghomefacts.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

Scotia’s Baptist Nursing Home: A Risk To Quality Care?

When: Monday, October 16, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Where: Schenectady Public Library, 99 Clinton Street

Who: Nursing home workers, families of the residents of Baptist Nursing Home, elected officials, concerned citizens

Interviews, photo & video opportunities available

Background: The workers at Baptist Nursing Home dedicate their lives to the care and comfort of the nursing home’s ill, injured, frail and elderly residents, under challenging conditions. Troubled by these challenges, which have fallen on deaf ears when brought to management, this Town Hall Meeting has been called to bring attention to the severe situation.

Lack of Continuity of Care: A revolving door of workers (many are not even  hired as permanent staff) has created a lack of continuity of care for  residents. With the low wages and unaffordable health benefits offered by  Baptist, it’s difficult to maintain the most dedicated caregivers, especially  when many union nursing homes in the region offer real economic security.  After all, every nursing home worker deserves to be able to take care of their own families at the same time they care for others.

Quality Care Indicators: The workers and the resident families are troubled that they have been speaking about frequent turnover and its connection to quality care for almost 3 years. Resident family members have recently expressed concern that things are getting worse.  Baptist performs below average on several care measures noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. nynursinghomefacts.org The group believes these outcomes are unacceptable, related to staff turnover—and can be improved.

 

Where Is The Money Going? Baptist has spent an exorbitant amount of money on an anti-union law firm. Had a portion of those dollars been used to improve staffing and better the lives of residents and workers alike, staffing and care issues could be mitigated, if not mostly absent, today. Baptist could be working in partnership with to fight back Medicaid cuts and a plethora of dangerous healthcare policies that are rapidly coming down the pike.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.