Nurse layoffs could hurt care

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 31, 2013

~~<p>The proposed reduction in workforce among the registered nurses employed at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii clinics is a distressing signal of disruptions to come in the reform of the nation's health care delivery system. The concern is less about the churn in health labor, which seems inevitable, but that staffing adjustments could happen chaotically, jeopardizing the quality of care.</p>
<p>All of this worry stems from reports of the proposal gleaned by Star-Advertiser writer Kristen Consillio. According to a memo sent by Kaiser to its union partner, the Hawaii Nurses Association, the nonprofit health maintenance organization proposes to cut at least 47 registered nurses in primary care positions at some of its 18 clinics statewide.</p>
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The proposed reduction in workforce among the registered nurses employed at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii clinics is a distressing signal of disruptions to come in the reform of the nation's health care delivery system. The concern is less about the churn in health labor, which seems inevitable, but that staffing adjustments could happen chaotically, jeopardizing the quality of care.

All of this worry stems from reports of the proposal gleaned by Star-Advertiser writer Kristen Consillio. According to a memo sent by Kaiser to its union partner, the Hawaii Nurses Association, the nonprofit health maintenance organization proposes to cut at least 47 registered nurses in primary care positions at some of its 18 clinics statewide. Login for more...