Daughters of Charity Should Move Immediately to Choose a New Buyer to Protect Community, Says SEIU-UHW

OAKLAND, Calif., March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Healthcare workers today urged Daughters of Charity Health System to immediately designate another buyer for its six financially ailing hospitals now that Prime Healthcare has opted out of purchasing the facilities in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

"This announcement sets the path for other buyers more compatible with Daughters' commitment to public health to jump in immediately to purchase either the entire health system or individual hospitals," said Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). "Daughters management needs to move quickly to select a buyer to continue Daughters' mission of serving the sick and poor in our communities."

In addition to one company that is prepared to buy the entire health system, other entities are interested in buying the individual hospitals. In the case of St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood and St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles, two major non-profit, healthcare providers are ready to instantly buy and manage them. They more closely align with the current owner's mission than Prime Healthcare and are solidly positioned to strengthen the hospitals. The County of Santa Clara has agreed to purchase O'Connor Hospital in San Jose and Saint Louise in Gilroy, and a respected healthcare company is lined up to buy the Seton medical centers in Daly City and Moss Beach.

"Today's decision is a step in the right direction to protect continuity of care for patients and communities that rely on these hospitals," said Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). "It was a broad, statewide coalition of healthcare workers, community groups and elected officials that stood up on their behalf, and now Daughters can ensure the long-term stability of the hospitals by choosing an experienced buyer that's ready to step in immediately."  

More than 2,600 employees in the Daughters of Charity Health System are members of SEIU-UHW.  

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. SEIU-UHW is part of the two million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

CONTACT: Sean Wherley
(323) 893-6831
[email protected]

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SOURCE SEIU-UHW