"From the canny cast to the crack chamber ensemble backing the action, the double bill offered a feast for eyes, ears, and mind." ~ A.Z. Madonna, Boston Globe
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, an independent state agency, estimates that healthcare costs will increase between $676 million and $949 million annually if this initiative passes.
In her letter to the editor Rene Wood writes: "Voting NO on Question 1 doesn’t say we don’t value their dedication and care. It doesn’t mean we’re against nurses. It does mean nurse-to-patient ratios should not be one size fits all or mandatory."
Nurses have worked hard to advance our profession through education, advocacy, accountability and leadership. This law would set back the entire profession, and health care as a whole.
In a letter John Breasted writes: "The nurse staffing issues are complex. My own understanding of them has not been helped by soundbite-sized assertions about what the adoption of Question 1 would mean for patients."
In her letter Rene Wood writes: "Question No. 1 will undermine the financial stability of hospitals, especially nonprofit hospitals like our beloved Fairview Hospital."
In a letter to the editor Dr. Brian Burke writes: "However, under the terms of the nurse staffing initiative, if you arrive at an emergency department at the wrong time, you may not be seen until and unless additional staff are brought in to restore the ratio."