[5/14/205 Correction/Clarification.  There are strictly speaking three union groups that are on strike at PeaceHealth as pointed out to me by a reader.  "SEIU, which includes CNAs, techs, cleaning & food services, respiratory therapy, and basically everyone who isn’t a nurse or provider. Then there’s UAPD which includes Nurse midwives, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, etc. and a 3rd group representing Sound Physicians/hospitalists."]

 

 

"We Carry on the Healing Mission of Jesus Christ"  is the brief description of PeaceHealth's "mission or most significant activities" as reported to the IRS on its Form 990 tax declaration for non-profits.

I have recently learned that recipients of care at PeaceHealth are receiving letters from one Amber Asbjornsen, who is the Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Northwest Network, PeaceHealth.  These letters thank the former patients/clients for having entrusted PeaceHealth with their care and ask for a charitable donation no matter that in places like Whatcom County PeaceHealth has a virtual monopoly on health care.  So the Asbjornsen letter's appeal immediately falls short of being genuine and credible.  Moreover, PeaceHealth, a charitable organization, pays (as of 2023) its President and CEO $3.5 million per year.  There are also well over a dozen other PeaceHealth managers who top out at well over a million dollars each per year.  That's an awful lot of charity and "healing" for the higher echelons.  [N.B. All these financials are availble on the Propublica site here.]

So it is no wonder the nurses are now striking at PeaceHealth.  As reported by the Cascadia Daily News:

"The community is sick and tired of the monopoly,” said Jose Reta, an MRI technologist at St. Joseph and a member of the SEIU [Service Employees International Union] bargaining team. “The monopoly is controlling the horrible wages, because that’s the only gig in town — and we’re standing up against that.”

So let's talk seriously about giving to those in need where it really matters:

SEIU has established a strike fund for members, which provides workers $100 for each day they spend four hours or more on the strike line. (Source: Cascadia Daily News.)

PeaceHealth is a multi-billion dollar "charity" whose nurses must look to donations to eat while they seek reasonable wages.  If you are interested in contributing to the strikers' cause, visit their donation page now... SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Solidarity Fund

And as if the billions are not enough to feed the PeaceHealth beast:

We ought not forget the clandestine maneuver made three years ago by PeaceHealth by moving Traditional Medicare clients ( those with a primary care (PC) physican in the PeaceHealth network) from Traditional Medicare to their newly created, for-profit Cascadia Community Care Alliance also known as a Direct Contracting Entity. This "transfer" was done without the authorization of the Traditional Medicare clients who received either no notice at all or received notice but after the fact.  This action essentially moved these individuals from their chosen and preferred Tradtional Medicare into a form of Medicare (Dis)Advantage where health care decisions are largely made by managers/insurance companies (and their algorithms?) who may or may not have any medical experience or training.  The only recourse for these PeaceHealth patients to move back to Traditional Medicare is to find another PC physician outside of the reach of PeaceHealth's tentacles.  A nigh impossible task to which PeaceHealth victims will attest.  You can read my original article on this stealth action by PeaceHealth here: “The Blob” or Peace Health’s Latest Expansion Gambit

If your are on Medicare and your PC physician is with PeaceHealth, show this article to that doctor during your next visit.  Ask your PC who should be controlling your health care... Cascadia Care Alliance or your PC and you?  And don't forget to support the nurses, those who will be with you 24/7 but don't make a million dollars a year.