Community rally demands ‘Save St. Vincent’s!’

In the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan, a 162-year-old hospital fights to remain open. On Feb. 10 the Coalition to Save St. Vincent’s Catholic Hospital and Medical Center held a community forum at Service Employees International Union Local 32-BJ headquarters. More than 300 people attended. Other rallies and town hall meetings were also held during the prior couple of weeks.

It was recently learned that St. Vincent’s Hospital is slated to be closed in a proposed takeover. The hospital is $700 million in debt. Because of staff and community protests and appeals to the state, Gov. David Patterson has just loaned the hospital $12 million. GE Capital has also put up money to keep the hospital open. These monies, however, are expected only to keep the hospital out of trouble through the end of February.

Among the speakers at the forum were forum moderator and Community Board 2 chairperson, Jo Hamilton; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer; Public Advocate Bill DiBlasio; City Council members Mary Chin and Christine Quinn; City Comptroller John Liu; Kevin Finnegan, SEIU Local 1199 political director; Jessie Blumenthal, head of St. Vincent’s Trauma Center; and Dr. Xavier Jiminez, SEIU, representing the hospital’s interns and residents.

Also speaking were Eileen Dunn, president of the nurses union at St. Vincent’s; John Hilton, nurse and co-chairperson of the Nurses Association; Dr. Mike Wayne, surgeon; paramedics and Local 1199 Emergency Response Team workers; a New York State Senior Action Committee representative; some former patients; and community residents.

The urgency of the situation was stressed throughout the evening. What’s at stake, it was stated, is the integrity of the city’s health care system. The hospital’s closing will set a precedent of making the most vulnerable in society suffer, namely the poor, elderly, uninsured, homeless and mentally ill. St. Vincent’s is also considered to have a vanguard HIV/AIDS program, with nothing comparable nearby.

It was noted that closing St. Vincent’s will cut the medical care safety net if there is no massive protest against it. It was emphasized that coalition building is needed between unions, staff and elected officials. A lot of anger was expressed about why the proposed closing is happening. The closing will cause a ripple effect and put a strain on the resources of other parts of the city. St. Vincent’s is considered the litmus test for the future of health care in the city.

Several speakers emphasized the ongoing need for the Level One trauma center in that part of the city. The distance to other trauma centers and previous closings of other hospitals means the closing of St. Vincent’s would be a matter of life or death. St. Vincent’s trauma center, it was noted, is known worldwide since the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, because it treated the first responders. It was also stated that St. Vincent’s treated survivors of the Titanic sinking and the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire.

It was emphasized repeatedly that the community must rise to the occasion, step up the fight and take to the streets when necessary. Health care has become a business, it was noted, but people won’t stop getting sick or injured. This is about saving jobs as well as protecting the community, many said.

It was stated that the government must invest in St. Vincent’s. Mention was made that if AIG and other corporations were considered “too big to fail” and entitled to a bailout, then a full-service hospital like St. Vincent’s should be saved too.

It was disclosed at the forum that behind-closed-door agreements were made on Feb. 5 to close the trauma center, emergency room and behavioral science clinic and to no longer accept new patients. But the power of staff and community protests thwarted the secret deal, at least for now. Keeping up the pressure, staying focused and remaining strong were emphasized. It was noted that no responses on this issue have been made by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Two days after this meeting the hospital announced that 32 doctors had been laid off. In addition, all executives will be taking a 25 percent pay cut; directors, managers and physicians will take a 20 percent pay cut. All other nonunion workers will either take a pay cut or be laid off by the end of February. The hospital says the pay reductions are only temporary, but necessary because of its financial situation.

Staff morale is reportedly low, but they are willing to make sacrifices if necessary in order to keep the hospital open. Doctors, nurses and managerial staff say they’ll work side by side with union members.

“Keep fighting!” “Save St. Vincent’s!” “Save our jobs!” were the rallying cries repeatedly shouted out throughout the forum.