Dartblog

We recently discussed the dissatisfaction felt by nurses at DHMC, and the intention of some of them to meet with labor union organizers. Among other issues, they were dissatisfied with the reduction in their vacation hours. Well, it looks like their efforts have already borne fruit: management has restored the planned cuts.

Was this a smart move by DHMC’s co-presidents? Will the nurses interpret this action as responsiveness to their concerns about fairness? Or will they see it as proof that even a hint of union organizing will cause management to cave in to their demands? Only time will tell, but I know how the union organizers are going to spin things.

Date: 28 Jul 2010 15:42:59 -0400
From: Office.of.the.Presidents@Hitchcock.ORG (Office of the Presidents)
Subject: Management Action Plan
To: Emp-dhmc-leb-list@Hitchcock.ORG
Sender: owner-emp-dhmc-leb-list@Hitchcock.ORG
Precedence: bulk

Dear Colleagues

First and foremost we would like to thank you for all you are doing to help the thousands of patients we serve on a daily basis. In order to maintain our core services and continue our path towards a high performing, value-based medical system we recently brought forward a management action plan to assist in balancing our budget for Fiscal Year 2010. We considered many options, and the impact of each action, to achieve our budget.

Given your feedback and our analysis, and the need for ongoing efforts, we have decided that the one-pay-period withholding of earned time will not be part of the current management action plan. We will however continue to bring forward options to balance the Fiscal Year 2010 budget while realizing Fiscal Year 2011 will be even more challenging. Therefore, with your help we will continue on the journey to improving our care while lowering our cost.

We have a great organization and together we will lead the necessary changes we must make while maintaining our total commitment to our patients. We need each of you to be engaged in these efforts and together we will be successful.

Thank you,

Nancy and Jim

The sentiments expressed in this letter (appreciation, efficiency, caring, etc.) are fine, but management has to do more than talk the talk. The staff at DHMC is bursting with good ideas for improving the hospital, but they believe that their views are not listened to by the powers that be. It’s time for management to really hear what the staff is saying, and then give credit for good suggestions. Managers who are confident and open-minded can do this; it is a mark of lesser managers that they cannot. All men are created equal, but not all managers. DMHC needs a lot more good ones and it needs to cull out the poor ones.