National Nurses United

RN organizing throws wrench in plan to close pediatric unit MASSACHUSETTS s a result of a communitybased campaign organized by the registered nurses of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the state Department of Public Health in June declared that the pediatric unit at Morton Hospital in Taunton, Mass. is an "essential service," throwing a wrench into the plan by Steward Health Care to close the popular, Level II 13-bed service. The department found that the unit, which has been around for more than 50 years and serves an average of four to eight children per day from Taunton and surrounding communities, is "necessary for preserving access and health status for children in the Morton Hospital service area." The state based its finding on its review A JUNE 2013 of the issue and on testimony given at a public hearing held May 21, where dozens of healthcare providers, community members, parents of patients, former patients, and elected officials opposed the closure for fear of hurting the care provided to patients. The letter from the Department of Health cited a number of serious issues related to the proposed closure plan, including that Morton Hospital "did not consult with members and leaders of the community that it serves to assess the impact of eliminating this service on patients and families in need, and possible alternatives to the elimination of necessary services." The hospital also would "force families to travel well out of the community to obtain acute hospital level care for their children, and substantially limit the ability of many families to provide comfort and support to a hospitalized child" and "through creation of a four-bed observation unit adjacent to its Emergency W W W. N AT I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G Department, expose children to potentially dangerous or disturbing conditions." The state questioned patient census data provided by Morton Hospital management to justify the closing and demanded that Steward provide detailed records of every patient cared for in the unit for the last three years, while also calling upon Steward to provide a detailed plan as to how it will address the concerns of the community and maintain access to services for these children, all of which will then be reviewed by DPH.  "We greatly appreciate DPH's findings that this is an essential service, and that the loss of this service will deprive children throughout the region the care they deserve," said Joyce Wilkins, RN, chair of the MNA/NNU local bargaining unit at Steward Morton Hospital, which represents the nurses who work on the unit. "Our hope now is that the unit remains open to continue to provide excellent care for children and that state officials do whatever is necessary to ensure that this service remains open for these vulnerable children." —David Schildmeier N AT I O N A L N U R S E 7

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