Residents Demand Change

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Residents united in support of patient safety and optimal learning conditions:

Dear Leadership, 

We are writing to express our outrage and deep disappointment regarding the sudden and unilateral curricular changes to the Neuro ICU and MICU rotation, changes being implemented in less than one month without adequate notice. Today, we join together in collective action alongside our IM, FM, and EM colleagues because it is clear our voices are not being heard through traditional channels. 

These changes were crafted behind closed doors, with little transparency and even less regard for the concerns raised by the Curriculum Committee, our peer-selected representatives who are simply advocating for the best interests of the residents. This is not collaboration. It is dismissal. 

With the academic year just over 2 weeks away, there is still no clear or finalized schedule for either ICU rotation. Why are we forcing residents into a mandatory Neuro ICU rotation when there are already issues getting elective time in their specialty of choice, not to mention critical staffing needs in Firm C Blue that would benefit from these same residents? Why not focus efforts on strengthening the general neurology curriculum first, rather than patchworking an ill-conceived plan at our expense? 

As for the MICU, in an era when programs nationwide are abandoning 24-hour call structures, this administration is inexplicably reinstating a 24+4 q4 call model. This regressive move worsens the schedule, removes essential supervision for interns on post-call days, and eliminates a valuable learning role for day float seniors—undermining both education and patient safety. 

To date, leadership has not even had the courtesy to formally announce these sweeping changes to the IM residents outside of the Curriculum Committee or hold a single Town Hall to hear resident concerns. Since we’ve been denied the opportunity to speak, we are presenting you with the results of our resident survey, which overwhelmingly reflect how deeply unpopular and unsafe these changes are. 

We are left with no choice but to take action. This collective action is not symbolic—it is necessary. Our learning, safety, and dignity demand better. 

The IM Residents 

Click here to review the polling data from the Internal Medicine Residents.

Your contract negotiations are coming up soon!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our priorities! Your experiences and insights are incredibly valuable and will significantly guide us during negotiations.

Cook County Hospital 1975 - Photo taken by the HSA

Recently, we’ve identified several key issues that we plan to tackle:

- A salary increase that reflects the current market value for our collective.

- Ensuring that HR promptly informs the board when union representation is requested.

- If residents are asked to take on leadership duties, such as creating schedules or organizing purchases for study materials and clothing, they should be compensated fairly, including an increase in pay for chiefs.

- Updating the pay schedule to align with our start and transition dates of July 1.

- Introducing new provisions regarding termination or leaves of absence.

- Adding language for penalties related to violations of the contract.

The bargaining process thrives on collaboration and requires compromise. While we may not be able to achieve all our goals right away, we can still make meaningful strides over time. It’s crucial for us to understand how these issues have impacted you and your program. Your feedback will help us hone in on what truly matters to all of us. Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective—we genuinely appreciate it!

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If you're serious about securing a strong contract, join the union today. Remember, only union members can vote on contract changes —By signing up now and working together, we have the power to advocate effectively for the changes we demand.

For more information about the House Staff Association please visit our website: hsacc.org

  or contact HSA @ admin@hsacc.org. To file a grievance, please email grievances@hsacc.org.

HSA 2024 Fall Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the House Staff Association newsletter! As we wrap up the summer season, we want to provide you with a recap of the events and updates that have taken place within our organization. From welcoming the new HSA Board to securing recent wins and updating our collective bargaining agreement, we have been consistently advocating for our members' rights and interests. Additionally, we will share information on upcoming events, ways to get involved with your union, and how to stay informed about crucial developments. Join us as we highlight the exciting initiatives and important milestones that have defined our summer!

Welcome to the New HSA Board!

Every year, the HSA members elect representatives from their specialties to serve on the executive committee and as representatives. We are proud to introduce the representatives of our union who got elected to serve on the Executive Committee. Our President, Amelia Lerch from Family Medicine, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role. As Vice President and Grievance Committee Chair, Jessica Akpabio from Internal Medicine is committed to advocating for the rights of our members. Keeping things organized, we have Noelle Krueger as our Secretary and Ufeh "Annabel" Ogar as our Treasurer, both representatives from Internal Medicine.

Our additional committee chairs and representatives, including Tanya Brown and Arielis Perez Marte from Pediatrics, Steven Wilson Jr. and Tahyri Diaz of Family Medicine, Anirudh Chitale and Marina Wolf of Emergency Medicine, are all here to provide fresh perspectives and valuable expertise. Together, they form a strong leadership team that will work tirelessly to represent our members' interests and uphold our union's values.

Your support is crucial to the success of our union and the effectiveness of the HSA Board. Here are some ways you can actively contribute and collaborate with us.

#1. Sign up NOW to become a union member! 

#2. Meet your departmental rep - if you don't have one, become one!

• Consider participating in board committees and becoming representatives for your peers.

#3. Attend HSA meetings/events

• The board meets on the first Thursday of every month at 5:30 pm on the 5th floor of the Professional building.

• There will be a general membership meeting at 4 pm on October 3rd on the 7th floor of the Stroger Professional Building.

#4. Fill out patient care surveys regularly.

• Did you know that in 1975, your union fought for and won a voice in patient care standards? This significant win paved the way for House Staff to address residents' concerns about patient care to hospital admin. You can submit patient care concerns via this survey anytime. Submissions are anonymous.

#5. Alert your representatives of educational concerns to bring to GMEC. Your representatives on this board are Tanya Brown, Noelle Krueger, and Steven Wilson Jr.

Contract Updates:

In the past year, we've had opportunities to work with the Cook County Administration on positive changes to the contract. These changes include introducing Paid Family Medical Leave, providing raises with back pay for most residents, and adding a new holiday - Pulaski Day. House staff physicians are now entitled to a paid day off on Pulaski Day and will receive a compensatory day off if they have to work on hospital holidays.

Grievance Updates:

HSA has received emails from numerous residents about paycheck discrepancies and has filed a grievance to address the issue. We have escalated the matter to ensure prompt backpay. Additionally, there are concerns

about the current processing time of educational reimbursements, rest assured HSA is working on it, we are in talks with county to negotiate a fixed processing time frame in our upcoming contract.

In other grievance news, there was a successful resolution of a previous grievance, resulting in the reinstatement of the employee after a year with back pay. This process, although time-consuming and expensive, underscores the significance of being a dues-paying union member because you never know when you'll need support due to an unfair disciplinary process.

HSA Committee Reports

Community Outreach and Political Action Committee (COPAC):

COPAC is excited to invite you to our upcoming HSA meeting for residents who want to learn more about the resources available to them. We'd love for you to join us. We'll have some delicious food, so RSVP to ensure enough for everyone. The Union Event will be on October 3rd at 4 pm on the 7th floor of the Stroger Professional Building. See you there!

Medical Care Review Committee (MCRC):

The Medical Care Review Committee is essential for ensuring patients at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital get the best care. The committee works with the hospital's medical administration and the House Staff Union to improve medical care and services. They want to hear from you about your experiences and concerns so they can make things better. Your input will help them understand the patient care issues that need to be addressed within the hospital. You can fill out the survey at any time, and it's anonymous. Thanks for helping improve patient care!

Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC):

During the recent GMEC meeting, a significant portion of the discussion revolved around ACGME. The main topics included identifying areas of deficiency, addressing the ineffectiveness of the disciplinary process for attendings not working with residents, and establishing a system for residents to report such concerns. Additionally, the hospital is in the process of increasing opportunities for medical students to shadow professionals. They are exploring programs that can accommodate more learners. Moreover, the county aims to expand opportunities for international medical students to apply for rotations. The HSA plans to meet with the program director to streamline processes.

It was emphasized that there were significant issues with the elevators, as only 80% seemed operational, including the staff elevators used to transport patients. To address this, they are in the process of changing the elevator contract to a new company to ensure that the elevators won't crash as often. Additionally, they are working to update and fix all the elevators to address these concerns.

If you want to discuss anything at the next GMEC meeting, contact your representatives, Tanya Brown, Noelle Krueger, and Steven Wilson Jr. (or email HSA at admin@hsacc.org).

Residents United at West Suburban continue their fight for a fair contract

Last fall, all family medicine residents working at West Suburban Medical Center, located on the border of the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago and the suburb of Oak Park, signed union authorization cards. They held a union election and won with a unanimous victory, joining the House Staff Association, which has been fighting for the well-being of patients and residents since 1974.

The residents at West Suburban are still working on securing their contract. At the start of the summer, they held a picket outside West Suburban Medical Center to express their grave concerns about the employer, facility, and residency program. Their employer is delaying the bargaining process with a lack of participation, resulting in numerous unfair labor practice reports to the National Labor Review Board. They hope to get back to the bargaining table soon but have to wait for the NLRB and federal mediation to step in.

You can check out the HSA website for more information on their concerns, Which have been mentioned in the Chicago Tribune, Crain's Chicago Business, and the Austin Journal. You can also follow/support the residents on Instagram @residentsunitedatwestsuburban.

PDF Version:

2024 Fall Newsletter - House Staff Association of Cook County.pdf

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