RNs Raise Concerns Over Insight Health's Track Record

Registered nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, California, are set to outline their demands for a lease-to-purchase contract with Insight Health at the San Benito Health Care District meeting on Thursday, February 27. The nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), have expressed skepticism about Insight Health's ability to run the hospital in a financially responsible manner that prioritizes the health and well-being of San Benito County residents.

Insight Health's own tax forms reveal a questionable track record. Since taking over a Chicago hospital in 2021, Insight Chicago has lost $57.9 million in the first three years, even as Insight Management took in more than $29.4 million in fees from the fiscally struggling hospital. The American Prospect published a scathing investigation outlining numerous lawsuits and allegations of fraud and other questionable business practices perpetrated by Insight. A former hospital administrator quoted in the article claimed, "Dollar signs are what Insight sees. They do not know how to run a hospital and they don’t care that they don’t know."

Sonia Duran, a registered nurse at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, stated, "We know what it takes to care for our community, it takes a commitment to put patients before profits and a willingness to work with the community in an honest and transparent manner to address their needs. Patients should not be left wondering whether their local hospital will be safely staffed in the years to come or whether service lines will be eliminated. Nurses are demanding that any future operator of Hazel Hawkins commits to a set of principles ensuring that patients will receive the highest quality of care."

The nurses are demanding:

• Management fees must not exceed 6 percent of net patient revenue, and any profits made during the five-year lease period shall be reinvested into the Hospital.



• All medical service lines must remain operative under the new contract, including 24-hour emergency services, intensive care services, labor and delivery services, surgical services, women’s health services, including women’s reproductive services.



• Creation of a Community Advisory Board to audit the facility and ensure that the hospital administration is following laws, regulations, and contractual obligations.



• Insight Health must make available and administer a financial assistance program, and provide training for frontline staff to make families and patients aware of this program.



• Insight Health must maintain a charity care program at an average of 1 percent of operating revenue.

CNA represents nearly 135 registered nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.