Contestation over Nurse Dismissals at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Spokane, Wash. — The Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) has officially contested the dismissals of over a dozen nurses at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, citing privacy concerns.
Details of the Disciplinary Actions
According to WSNA Executive Director David Keepnews, 15 nurses were dismissed and one received disciplinary action in the past two months amid investigations following the death of a 12-year-old patient at the facility. The union asserts that the nurses accessed information pertinent to their duties during the incident response.
Union's Stance on Privacy Protections
“WSNA and its members consider the privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to be of the highest importance,” Keepnews stated. “We firmly oppose Providence Sacred Heart’s allegations that nurses violated privacy, especially when they were performing their responsibilities to aid in saving a young patient’s life.”
Context of Disciplinary Measures
The union noted that these disciplinary measures followed an April 23 art...