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DOCTORS RALLY AT HARLEM HOSPITAL
TO PROTEST LAYOFFS AND SERVICE CUTS

  Speakers Include Assemblyman Keith Wright, Councilman Bill Perkins,
Councilwoman Christine Quinn    

New York, NY: On Thursday, November 20^th at noon, doctors at Harlem Hospital will  protest Columbia University’s abrupt and unjustified layoffs of experienced doctors at Harlem Hospital and the Renaissance Diagnostic and Treatment Center, as well the impact of such actions on the delivery of patient care.

Columbia University, which employs the 200 doctors at Harlem Hospital, an HHC facility, recently fired 8 physicians at Harlem and Renaissance and reduced the hours of 4 others.  According to Doctors Council and its on-site affiliate United Doctors Association at Harlem Hospital (UDAH), which together, represent the doctors at Harlem and Renaissance, up to 20 more layoffs and  reductions in hours are planned by Columbia.

“The eight doctors who have been laid off  have provided nearly 75 years of  medical care to the Harlem community.  Today, elected representatives,  religious leaders, community activists and labor leaders have joined with the medical staff to stop Columbia from depriving Harlem of access to experienced doctors who know the healthcare needs of this community better than anyone,”  said Barry Liebowitz, M.D., President of Doctors Council.   

Last year, doctors’ productivity at Harlem Hospital increased by 16%.  Occupancy rates at the hospital have increased by 10% and the daily census is up over 5%.   Hospital collections increased by 24% in the past year and billing is 11% higher.  These statistics demonstrate an enormous commitment to Harlem Hospital on the part of the medical staff and the community.

In addition, there has been an extraordinary 80% increase in the number of visits to the emergency room, which is the most expensive site to deliver ambulatory care.  “Layoffs and reductions will only increase utilization of the emergency room as patient care options decrease,” said Dr. Liebowitz.  “That will result in higher expenses for the hospital and a diminished capacity to handle patient needs.”  

Doctors, community and labor leaders are also rallying against what they are calling the “shameful” manner in which Columbia is delivering the bad news to doctors.  One doctor, a pediatrician with 19 years of experience at Harlem was laid off on a Friday and told not to return on Monday.  Another doctor with 10 years at Harlem, received a layoff notice via Federal Express.  After his wife opened the letter, she was rushed to the hospital, suffering from chest pains. 

Doctors Council, an organization of doctors, by doctors, and for doctors, is the nation's oldest and largest union of attending physicians in the United States, with over 3,700 members in the New York Metropolitan Area.  On March 1, 1999 Doctors Council affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  As part of the affiliation, Doctors Council partnered with two of SEIU’s locals, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) and the United Salaried Physicians and Dentists (USPD) to create the National Doctors Alliance.                                  

The National Doctors Alliance has a membership of over 16,000 members nationwide. and its major functions are to address issues of common concern for doctors, and to determine the best and most efficient course of action for organizing new members here and around the country.

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