Nurses at Kaiser Permanente are raising serious alarms regarding recent staffing cuts and the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence in patient care despite a 4-year contract agreement made with the California Nurses Association (CNA) in 2022.
The contract is intended to provide competitive wages, benefits, and professional opportunities while ensuring a work environment that prioritizes the well-being and safety of nurses.
Deb Capistrano, a registered nurse in the telemetry unit at Kaiser San Francisco Medical Center and a member of CNA’s board of directors, voiced strong opposition against the staffing reductions initiated by Kaiser.
“Kaiser has moved quickly to justify recent cuts to nurse staffing, but we won’t stand for that,” Capistrano stated, emphasizing the critical nature of having safe staffing levels across all Kaiser facilities for the benefit of patients and local communities.
Capistrano also criticized the financial practices of Kaiser, suggesting that the organization continues to thrive financially while compromising the safety and care provided to patients.
Additionally, concerns are being raised about the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Michelle Gutierrez Vo, an RN at Kaiser Fremont Medical Center and CNA president, underscored the potential dangers of replacing dedicated nurses with untested technology.
“You simply cannot replace nurses with technology like artificial intelligence,” Vo explained. She continued, urging Kaiser management to collaborate with nurses on pressing issues such as safe staffing and wage theft, rather than implementing technology that could endanger patient care.
In response, Leedy, representing Kaiser Permanente, defended the organization’s approach to technology, stating that they are committed to empowering nurses with advanced tools that are designed to enhance the quality of care.
“We have consistently invested in and embraced technology that enables nurses to work more effectively, resulting in improved patient outcomes and nurse satisfaction, and we will continue to do so,” Leedy told Patch.
He reassured the public that artificial intelligence tools do not replace medical professionals but rather aid physicians and care teams in their decision-making processes.
Leedy believes that AI has the potential to enhance patient experiences and streamline operations within Kaiser facilities, aligning with their mission of providing high-quality, affordable healthcare.
In light of these developments, nurses have organized informational pickets scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, at several Kaiser facilities across California.
The picketing events are set to take place at various locations, including:
– Los Angeles Medical Center from 7-9 a.m. at 4867 W. Sunset Blvd.
– Sacramento Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 2025 Morse Ave.
– South Sacramento Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 6600 Bruceville Rd.
– Roseville Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 1600 Eureka Rd.
– Vacaville Medical Center from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at 1 Quality Dr.
– Fresno Medical Center from 7-9 a.m. at 7300 N. Fresno St.
– Modesto Medical Center from 8-10 a.m. at 4601 Dale Rd.
– Manteca Medical Center from 8-10 a.m. at 1777 W. Yosemite Ave.
– San Francisco Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 2425 Geary Blvd.
– Oakland Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 3600 Broadway.
– San Jose Medical Center from 3-5 p.m. at 250 Hospital Pkwy.
– Santa Clara Medical Center from 7-9 a.m. at 700 Lawrence Expy.
– Redwood City Medical Center from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at 1100 Veterans Blvd.
– South San Francisco Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 1200 El Camino Real.
– Santa Rosa Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 401 Bicentennial Way.
– San Rafael Medical Center from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 99 Montecillo Rd.
– Antioch Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 4501 Sand Creek Rd.
– Walnut Creek Medical Center from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at 1425 S. Main St.
– Vallejo Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 975 Sereno Dr.
– San Leandro Medical Center from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at 2500 Merced St.
– Richmond Medical Center from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at 901 Nevin Ave.
– Fremont Medical Center from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at 39400 Paseo Padre Pkwy.
These actions reflect the growing dissatisfaction among nurses regarding staffing policies and the integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare, as they advocate for solutions that prioritize patient safety and effective nursing practices.
image source from：patch
