For immediate release Wednesday, July 28, 2021
The frontline caregivers at Tyler Memorial Hospital are deeply shocked and concerned by the news of their hospital’s closure of its Emergency Department and conversion to an urgent care center and outpatient clinic.
Matthew Yarnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania which represents employees at the hospital, issued the following statement on the matter:
“Community Health Systems (CHS) acquired Tyler Hospital in 2011 with an express commitment to ‘meet the changing health needs of [the] community in a compassionate, collaborative, and cost-effective manner.’ And yet Monday, without soliciting any input from the community or the dedicated healthcare workers who have always helped their neighbors to receive care close to home, CHS is moving to close a crucial piece of Tunkhannock’s health infrastructure without regard for the disruption to people’s health and well-being. Closing this community hospital while we are still fighting a global pandemic is particularly concerning.
Caregivers and the Tunkhannock community are entitled to a voice in the future of this vital institution and the critical services provided by its emergency department. Before any decisions are made about this hospital, CHS must hold a public hearing to assess and mitigate the impact of the proposed closure on the community’s access to urgent care.”
Statement by Danielle Adams, Dietary Worker at Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock, Pa.:
“I’m shocked that after months and months of meeting with management at the bargaining table, not one caregiver at our hospital and no one in our community was consulted or informed of this plan. More than 100 workers will likely be out of work because of this decision and our community will be without local emergency care. The next closest emergency room is over 45 minutes away and that time could be the difference between life and death for someone in need of emergency services. We need a public hearing and a plan to make sure that CHS is putting the real needs of our community front and center.”
For more information contact James Myers, james.myers@seiuhcpa.org or 215-479-2213
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SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is the state’s largest and fastest-growing union of nurses and healthcare workers, uniting nearly 45,000 nurses, professional and technical employees, direct care workers, and service employees in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home- and community-based services, and state facilities across the Commonwealth. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania members are committed to improving the lives of health care workers and ensuring quality care and healthy communities for all Pennsylvanians.