Here are issues raised by nine Summa Akron City Hospital Emergency Department nurses and the responses from Summa and US Acute Care Solutions, the physician staffing group that took over New Year’s Day.
DIAGNOSES
Nurses: Patient care is delayed when some USACS doctors do not recognize signs of heart attacks, strokes and other common diagnoses. Nurses then bypass the doctors to get patients care.
USACS: All of the doctors are board-certified in emergency medicine and we are confident they are competent.
Summa: All Summa employees, including housekeeping staff, have been trained to recognize the signs of a stroke and can call for a stroke team at any time.
PROCEDURES
Nurses: About 50 percent of USACS doctors are rotating in and out so quickly that there are mistakes because they don’t know the hospital’s procedures.
USACS: There were a lot of new faces in January and February, but this month there are only three doctors scheduled who haven’t already worked in the City ER.
COMPLAINTS
Nurses: Supervisors and administration do not act on our complaints.
Summa: There are many ways to report concerns to the hospital, including an anonymous tip line for employees. We take all concerns seriously. We’re committed to working with the nurses to address their concerns.
CONFIDENCE
Nurses: We would not use the City ER ourselves and are advising our friends and family to go elsewhere for anything except minor health problems.
Summa: We are very saddened to hear that. We have an outstanding team in our Emergency Department, and we are confident in the care.
PHYSICIANS
Nurses: To fix the problems, bring back the former emergency room physicians. If not, find another group of qualified doctors.
Summa: The board has been very clear that the USACS contract stands.
LEAVING
Nurses: We all are looking for other jobs if the situation at Summa doesn’t get better.
Summa: Over time, nurses will develop their trust of the new physicians.