Nurse’s union reacts to order that medical company pay $17M in bills

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The United Nurses and Allied Professionals said it has been “sounding the alarm for years” about Prospect Medical Holdings’ lack of investment in both Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center.

The company was ordered to pay $17 million in overdue bills to vendors of both hospitals.

UNAP said it represents 1,200 employees at both hospitals as well as at Prospect Home Health and Hospice.

The full statement can be read below:

The nurses and health professionals working at Fatima Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, and Prospect Home Health and Hospice see the results of Prospect’s lack of investment in these facilities on a daily basis. Our union has been sounding the alarm for years about the negative impact this has had on patient care, availability of supplies, safety and overall morale.

This decision by Judge Stern further highlights the need for the next owner – whether it is Centurion Foundation or someone else – to invest their own capital into these important hospitals and healthcare facilities. We simply can not rely on saddling these hospitals with more and more debt as is being currently proposed. The owner of these facilities must be a true community partner who is willing to put their own skin in the game and invest in our patients, our workforce, our hospitals and our community.