In a historic move, over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente unionized employees have walked off the job, marking the largest health care worker strike in U.S. history. This significant action has left many of Kaiser's 12.7 million members scrambling to find care for a myriad of medical needs.
The striking employees, spread across several states including California, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Oregon, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., comprise a diverse group of healthcare professionals. This includes nursing staff, dietary workers, receptionists, optometrists, and pharmacists. The coalition of unions representing these workers has voiced concerns about staff shortages, which they claim have resulted in feelings of being overworked and burnt out. Their demands encompass higher pay, among other requirements.
Kaiser, one of the nation's largest health care organizations, has cautioned that patients in Colorado, Oregon, and California could face more substantial effects due to the strike. While the healthcare provider has assured patients that the strike should not deter them from seeking necessary care, many members looking for non-emergency and elective services report struggling to get the assistance they need, often with minimal communication.
Several patients in Los Angeles shared their experiences. Some reported smooth operations at the hospital on Sunset Boulevard, while others recounted struggles with delays, a lack of information about scheduled procedures, postponed diagnostic ultrasounds, lab work, and the absence of personnel to assist them.
Michael Signorio, who has been trying to see a surgeon for a torn meniscus for three weeks, expressed his frustration with the ongoing understaffing at Kaiser. As a bus driver, he emphasized the importance of his legs for his job. The uncertainty surrounding his appointment scheduling has added to his inconvenience. Signorio's wife also faced uncertainty about her surgery, scheduled for Wednesday, with no communication from Kaiser as of Tuesday afternoon.
Despite the medical uncertainties faced by patients like Signorio, many express understanding and support for the strike. Signorio stated, "I do get it and I understand, so I'm prepared to reschedule and go back again."
Christina Campbell, whose mother is a cancer patient reliant on Kaiser's services, shared the challenges her mother faced in getting her semiweekly lab work due to the strike. Campbell expressed her disappointment with Kaiser, stating, "I think Kaiser should be stepping up and doing a little better job of keeping their facilities staffed. This is wrong on all levels...I feel bad for the nurses, but I feel worse for the patients."
Jennifer Fry, who was scheduled for an ultrasound to confirm her pregnancy, now faces a rescheduled appointment. Other patients mentioned difficulties in getting booster shots and the ongoing unavailability of appointments. Some are even contemplating switching from Kaiser to ensure they receive the necessary care.
Larriesha Malbrough, a Kaiser patient in Los Angeles, described her emotional experience crossing the picket line to enter the hospital for an ER visit. As a healthcare worker at a different hospital, she empathized with the striking workers, expressing guilt and understanding for their cause.
As the strike continues, the impact on both patients and healthcare workers remains profound, highlighting the complexities and challenges of the healthcare industry.
