• Let’s hold HPH accountable
• Listen to nurses
• Nurses supported on O‘ahu
• LPN tactic troubling
• Westside for the Superferry?
• For Superferry
• For Superferry too
Let’s hold HPH accountable
I just read Dr. Evslin’s guest viewpoint “Wilcox Health and the broken promise” in yesterday’s The Garden Island and it made me feel ill (pun intended).
I feel compelled to add my 2 cents worth.
If Dr. Evslin’s letter is accurate then it’s clear that Hawaii Pacific Health has deceived the staff at Wilcox and the residents of Kaua‘i. I’m no accountant or corporate manager but if I read the piece correctly then HPH had no intention of fulfilling its commitment from the beginning.
Looks to me like they wanted to spread the financial burden on Wilcox and reap the wealth from the hospital coffers.
Clever.
I’ve had the opportunity to be in the care of Wilcox numerous times (even for surgery) and have received nothing short of excellent care. I applaud the nurses for their resolve, their belief that what they are doing is for OUR benefit, the residents of Kaua‘i.
I think Dr. Evslin is correct. We need to let HPH know that this is our community hospital. We’re the ones who go there in times of need to seek the best medical care possible. People come first, dollars come in a distant second (if that). We have the opportunity to voice our concerns to HPH, let’s get it done.
It’s just like the “vote” letter I wrote a month ago. If you don’t voice your opinion when given the chance than you have no cause to gripe.
Thanks to Dr. Evslin for sharing his insight on this matter, a matter that affects us all. Let’s hold HPH accountable for their promises and get our nurses back to work doing what they love to do, caring for us.
Listen to nurses
The nurses employed at Wilcox who are on strike are courageous in their battle to address staffing issues.
Their voice articulates the negative impact on the health care of their community and patients. The issue of safe staffing is not exclusive to Hawai‘i and Wilcox. Registered Nurses in Minnesota and across the nation know the importance of adequate professional nurse staffing and its impact on the outcome of the community’s health care.
Listen to this group of nurses, they are not alone in their fight.
- Bernadine Engeldorf, RN
Saint Paul, Minn.
Nurses supported on O‘ahu
Here in Honolulu, I recently had the privilege, along with dozens of other union members and friends, of participating in a rally in support of striking Wilcox nurses held at Hawaii Pacific Health headquarters.
I had been shocked to learn that important health care decisions regarding Kaua‘i patients were being made from corporate offices here on O‘ahu.
I was even more shocked to hear about HPH and Wilcox’s unwillingness to ensure safe staffing at their hospital. Too often, health care decisions are being made to cover the “bottom line,” even if that means the patients and the community suffer.
On the positive side, I was amazed at the unanimously positive response we got from everyone at the rally — shakas, waves, and honks of support were non-stop. The people of Honolulu, like the residents of Kaua‘i, stand in support of our nurses and against the harmful actions of corporations like HPH.
LPN tactic troubling
I find it ironic that Wilcox/HPH calls for the termination of the LPNs at Wilcox.
Today I receive in the mail my American Journal of Nursing, July 2006 with an article titled “Can the Use of LPNs Alleviate the Nursing Shortage?”
The study states that “hospitals could benefit from employing more LPNs.”
My other concern is the impact of this on our nursing program at KCC which uses a career ladder program. Where will these LPN graduates go to get the work experience before continuing on to the RN program?
I believe this negotiation tactic of threatening our colleagues’ jobs was not well thought out for our community and shows a distinct lack of critical thinking skills on the part of the HPH/Wilcox administration.
Westside for the Superferry?
I have been reading much and hearing much about this Superferry.
I really haven’t taken a side as to whether it should or should not be here. However, I have taken a stance on where we might place it.
Plans are now for it to go into Nawiliwili Harbor. Everyone knows that there are plenty of cruise ships, fishing boats, and of course barges coming in and going out of there every day. We cannot make it any larger, but we are forcing Matson and Young Brothers to get smaller for it. Kalapaki Bay already has the filthiest water anywhere around the island due in part to the harbor (we won’t mention what else).
The choice is simple, let’s get the funds together to seriously improve Kikaola Harbor on the Westside and send the Superferry there. The fishermen and tour boat operators will finally get the improvements they need and the Westside will get a huge boost to the economy and job opportunities over there.
It would ease the traffic in and out of Lihu‘e and since it is closer to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, the military may better be able to use the area and enforce that alien species do not enter as easily from the ferry. Plus there is plenty of area there to be allocated for parking.
Is anybody with me?
For Superferry
I think the Hawaii Superferry should come to Kaua‘i.
Why?
Because it will be cheaper and will let your car and animals go too. It will also let you carry your goods to sell.
- Maile Thain
Plymouth, Mass.
For Superferry too
I support the Superferry because it saves money when me and my family travel. We won’t have to rent a car either.
And we can carry cargo because on planes you’re not allowed to carry almost anything.
- Kamu Thain
Plymouth, Mass.
