Providence striking doctors: Patient safety top priority

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The strike of nurses and some doctors at Providence Hospitals enters its third day without a mediation session being held but talk of potential negotiations swirled.

Nearly 5,000 nurses, doctors and midwives went on strike January 10 for what they say are fair contracts, safe staffing and better patient care.

At Providence St. Vincent, hospitalists (that is, doctors who care for patients inside the hospital only) joined the nurses on the picket line and told KOIN 6 News safe staffing is their top priority.

"As the only O.B. hospitalist on call on the floor at this moment, I cannot safely take care of another patient," Dr. Megan Locher said. "You need to allow me to provide the continued quality care to the patients that I'm at the bedside with or we need another person."

Dr. Jahnavi Chandrashekar said this affects patients every day. "I work nights. personally, I see all the time patients waiting in the ER for hours," she said. "We're talking about, even after it's been decided that they do need to be in the hospital, they still spend hours waiting and sometimes on stretchers in the hallway."

Tim Kasal, who described himself as a "gushy old man," was one of the many people on the picket lines supporting the strikers.

"It brought tears to my eyes Friday when I drove out here," Kasal told KOIN 6 News. "How am I ever going to pay them back for saving my daughter and grandson? You can't pay that back."

Jane Drake and her husband recently moved from Bend to the Portland area. "My husband took a pay cut to come in here," she said. "I'm a brand new nurse. I just graduated, so this is my first nursing job. We just want to be paid what's fair."

Negotiating the negotiations

On Saturday, Providence announced they were ready to begin negotiations at the Medford and Newberg hospitals. Then on Sunday, Providence officials announced they're aware union leaders want to negotiate with all the groups at the same time or they won't negotiate.

But union leaders who spoke with KOIN 6 News said that is simply not true. They said they're willing to negotiate one group at a time if that's what's needed.

A date has not been set for any negotiations but strikers said they're prepared to stay on the picket line.

"Our union and our national union has our backs. And, you know, the community does as well," said ONA Bargaining Chair Virginia Smith. "So, you know, we will be out here just as long as it takes."

Supporters like Tim Kasal will also be standing with them.

"I'll be here everyday until it's resolved," he said. "I owe them a debt can't ever repay, so I am going to be here. If I have to wave the sign and thank people driving by, I don't care if they think I work here of not. I've got their back the best that I can."

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.