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Plans for handling potential doctors' strike and ensuring continued patient care
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Dr. Mitch Katz outlines NYC Health + Hospitals' plans for handling a potential doctors' strike and ensuring continued patient care in such an event.
- Katz notes that there is currently no strike notice due to ongoing arbitration
- He emphasizes that a strike would not resolve the underlying issues and hopes for a resolution through arbitration
- In the event of a strike, H+H would implement measures such as canceling elective surgeries and outpatient visits
- The system would rely on non-unionized staff, residents, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to maintain essential services
- Katz mentions the possibility of transferring critically ill patients to other facilities if necessary
- He acknowledges the emotional toll a strike would take on the healthcare community
Mercedes Narcisse
0:48:26
I know you're a good doctor.
0:48:27
I can tell.
0:48:30
We've been joined by council member Brewer and council member Menon.
0:48:34
It is our understanding that the doctors' council announced that their work stoppage will take effect on January 21st if an agreement is not reached.
0:48:44
How will H and H ensure uninterrupted patient care in the event of a strike, particularly in emergency department and critical care units?
Mitch Katz
0:48:54
Right.
0:48:55
So I think at the moment there's no strike notice because of the the arbitration.
0:49:01
So but but the doctor's counsel and our doctors do, and we respect their right to strike, have the right to strike with a 10 day notice.
0:49:10
So, we recognize that.
0:49:14
The it gets missed.
0:49:17
The the strongest reason in my view for there not to be a strike is that at the end of the strike, whether the strike is an hour, a day, a week, you still have to have all the same issues, still have to resolve all the same issues.
0:49:32
All the issues that are before us have to get resolved.
0:49:37
I I don't see how a strike will change any of the issues.
0:49:42
So that's why I'm hoping that through this arbitration, we are able to reach agreement and get everybody to see, arbitration, we are able to reach agreement and get everybody to see that, yes, it's this is hard work, reaching an agreement, but that at the end of the day, if you think a strike is going to again, I respect the right to do it.
0:49:59
I just don't see how it will change anything.
0:50:02
We'll have a strike.
0:50:03
Okay, we'll have a strike a day, a week, a month.
0:50:08
Then what happens?
0:50:09
We still have the same hard work that we had before the strike.
0:50:14
In terms of the the how we would plan, we when Woodhall had a water main leak, and we had to remove all of the patients, 223 patients in one day.
0:50:32
We did that.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:50:32
You did?
Mitch Katz
0:50:33
We are triage people.
0:50:35
Mhmm.
0:50:36
We if there was going to be a strike, we would obviously cancel elective surgeries.
0:50:42
We would cancel outpatient visits.
0:50:45
We would still, city workers cannot strike, as you know.
0:50:49
So our nurses, our nurse practitioners, our physician assistants, all of our residents, and I'd say about, you know, I don't I will say about 25% of our doctors who are, you know, in supervisory roles are not unionized.
0:51:06
So that that that would be your workforce.
0:51:10
It is not known by anyone on either side of this how many doctors would still choose to come to work.
0:51:17
As best as we understand it, there is not a strike fund.
0:51:21
So a doctor who didn't work would not get paid on that day.
0:51:25
There is nothing wrong with the doctor authorizing their union to strike and themselves decide that they're going to work.
0:51:35
How that would numerically work out, I don't know.
0:51:38
I don't know whether that would mean that 5% of doctors would come to work if there were a strike or how everybody was feeling at that at that moment in time.
0:51:55
We would obviously transfer sick patients in the ICU to other facilities.
0:52:03
But, again, if we're not doing, outpatient practice and we're not doing elective surgeries, you then have a group of senior physicians who are the supervisors, the residents, the PAs, the NPs to serve as a additional workforce in the ED.
0:52:24
So, you know, I'm hoping not not to do that, you know, but, you know, we will certainly make sure that everybody is safe.
0:52:33
If we can't if we don't run we can't run safely, then we will transfer out.
0:52:37
New York City is a place that is full of great hospitals and great hospital systems.
0:52:43
We're not we are not anticipating that there would be a strike notice at all of our facilities.
0:52:50
Some of them, you know, have not been, you know, involved.
0:52:53
As we said, as you know, when we mentioned, right, the, the city did reach agreement with doctor's counsel for city employed doctors.
0:53:03
So all the city employed doctors, that are primarily at Kings County where you worked, right, they will all be at work and able to accept patients.
0:53:14
So we we would get through it.
0:53:16
I think the biggest hard part would be the emotional part, frankly.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:53:21
On the record, I worked for 8 Elmhurst.
0:53:24
I did, I mean, kind of internship in in Kings County.
Mitch Katz
0:53:28
We're a family, and my doctors care deeply about our patients.
Dr. Frances Quee
0:53:32
Yeah.
Mitch Katz
0:53:32
And a strike will be very painful to everybody.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:53:35
It's a calling.
0:53:36
That's what I said being a doctor or nurse.
0:53:38
So, so I thank you.
0:53:41
So you have a plan in motion if that happened.
0:53:43
Yes.
0:53:44
Okay.
0:53:44
I pray and I hope that does not happen because we don't need that.
0:53:49
So we're going to make sure the doctors are happy.
0:53:53
How will H and H maintain care quality and safety for patient, especially those underserved communities during a potential work stoppage.
0:54:01
I think you kind of geared to it.
0:54:03
So, so you're going to do your best.
0:54:05
You're going to make the plan in motion.
0:54:07
So now in regards to the face, to the physician who would participate in the work stoppage, what are the titles of the medical staff who assist?
0:54:16
You said PAs, nurse practitioner I think you said.
0:54:19
And what credentials they have.
0:54:21
For instance, are they registered nurses, physician assistant?
0:54:24
I asked because I know it's a different level.
0:54:27
I think you pretty much answered those.
0:54:30
At this time, are you able to tell us which units at specific hospital or Gatham Health Centers will be most heavily affected by the work savage?