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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Frances Quee, President of Doctors Council SEIU, on Physician Compensation and Retention at NYC Health + Hospitals
2:05:03
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Dr. Frances Quee, President of Doctors Council SEIU and a practicing primary care doctor, testified about the challenges faced by physicians at NYC Health + Hospitals, emphasizing the need for competitive salaries to recruit and retain qualified doctors. She expressed concern about the organization's mission being in danger due to shortsighted decisions and staffing issues.
- Over 50% of H+H doctors are working paycheck to paycheck, leading to retention problems
- Persistent vacancies and a revolving door of doctors leaving contribute to short staffing and unsafe workloads
- Dr. Quee called for investment in attracting talented doctors and retaining experienced ones to maintain high-quality care
Dr. Frances Quee
2:05:03
Hi.
2:05:04
Good afternoon, city council.
2:05:06
We really appreciate you having us here today for this hearing.
2:05:10
I am doctor Francis Qui.
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I am the president of Doctors Council SEIU, and I am a practicing primary care doctor at Gotham sites.
2:05:20
I've been working with health and hospitals for 30 years.
2:05:24
As president of the Doctors Council, the largest union of attending doctors in the country, I'm here representing 2,200 members who serve New Yorkers regardless of the color of their skin, the country where they're from, and their ability to pay.
2:05:41
We love the work we do and we stand by the mission of New York City Health and Hospital Corporations.
2:05:47
But, we also demand respect and equitable treatment.
2:05:51
I'm also here today as a physician representing my own patients and their families because I believe in the mission of health and hospitals to extend quality care to all New Yorkers.
2:06:02
I am here today because I'm concerned that the mission that we dearly love is in danger.
2:06:08
In order for us to provide high highest quality of care that we want to give, and that our patients deserve, we need qualified and principled doctors.
2:06:18
That requires an investment in attracting talented doctors, and retaining the doctors who have dedicated years like myself.
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Even decades to serving New Yorkers who need our care the most.
2:06:30
Instead, health and hospitals are making shortsighted and rushed decisions without the input of the front line doctors.
2:06:36
This adds to a revolving door of doctors leaving which adds to short staffing and unsafe workloads.
2:06:43
And the cycle of crisis continues.
2:06:47
I would like today to point about physician compensation.
2:06:51
I echo the sentiment of the, council lady who spoke before us, miss Joan.
2:06:59
We know that the current salaries are not enough to effectively recruit and retain doctors.
2:07:05
We have watched our colleagues leave the system.
2:07:08
We oh, my time is up.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:07:10
Try to complete it.
2:07:11
Okay.
2:07:12
And,
Dr. Frances Quee
2:07:12
we have seen vacancies that persist for years.
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I know it's gonna be shocking to let everybody know that most of us, over 50% are working paycheck to paycheck.
2:07:23
And, we really need, health and hospitals to have, competitive salaries for the doctors in the
Mercedes Narcisse
2:07:32
public health care system.
2:07:32
I know we are
Dr. Frances Quee
2:07:32
mission driven, but at the same time we also system.
2:07:34
I know we are mission driven but at the same time we also need, to avoid the fact that a lot of our doctors are going to walk out of the job and we're going to be left with even more shortages.