Hospital Monitor: Workers’ Rights to a Free and Fair Union

Advocate Health Care accused of failing poor patients and workers

Chicago Defender
September 14, 2004

By Richard Muhammad
Contributing Writer

Advocate Health Care, the largest health industry employer in Chicago, denies workers the right to organize and has forsaken its mission to the poor in a quest to make more money, according to the Hospital Accountability Project, former patients and some current employees.

In September, the Hospital Accountability Project is bringing workers, patients, pastors and congregations together at "Jubilee Sunday" church services and calling for non-profit Advocate Health Care to respect workers, deal fairly with patients and increase free health care.

Clifton Sanders, a 53-year-old grandfather shared his struggle Sunday with Advocate Christ Medical Center on 95th St., from the pulpit of South Side Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sanders said harassment from Advocate bill collectors over $9,300 owed for 24-hours of care, as well as threats to take his home, followed an automobile accident that left him unable to work. Though a settlement from an insurance company was pending and almost $7,000 was offered to settle the bill, Advocate wouldn't relent, Sanders said Sept. 12. Charity care was never discussed and the former construction worker said he was double-billed for some services.

Advocate's commitment to the poor is absolute, said spokesman Dan Parker. Advocate has a generous charity care policy and most people who complete applications get some help, he said. But, Parker added, many people don't complete applications and others don't respond to requests for payment or notification that charity care is available. He declined to respond to any specifics about Sanders' case, citing privacy laws.

But, Parker said, collection policies are in line with federal law and the Advocate's faith-based mission.

That is immaterial to Joy Williams.

"It is a shame that the same patients I have taken care of in the hospital are being sued as soon as they leave the hospital," said Williams, a registered nurse at Trinity Advocate Hospital on East 93rd St. She was a guest speaker alongside Sanders at Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church. Teams of workers and patients spoke at five other churches that same day.

Williams, a nurse for 14 years, charged Advocate's lust for money is leading to equipment shortages and inferior patient care at Trinity Advocate, which often serves Black, Latino and low-income patients. She also complained of managers pulling her from patients to hear anti-union tirades.

"They say we don't need a union. I don't need for them to tell me what I don't need," she said.

The Hospital Accountability Project argues Advocate receives lucrative subsidies like tax exemptions and free water, but doesn't offer public benefits that match the perks. Its research found uninsured patients paid premium prices for care but insurance companies received discounts. Patients also faced aggressive debt collection. Some former patients had liens placed on their homes, the Hospital Accountability Project said.

Its most recent study, "Faith in Action" was released in late August and focuses on employee complaints. It accuses Advocate managers of threatening retaliation if workers support a union, and forcing employees in to ant-union meetings, while many workers get by on poverty-level wages. The Service Employees International Union, SEIU, sponsors the Hospital Accountability Project and would like to organize health care employees.

Parker said Advocate respects workers right to organize but wants employees to fully understand what union membership means. That includes the pros and the cons of membership, he said. Everything Advocate does is legal and any proven violations would warrant an internal investigation, he added.

Forty Chicago-area Evangelical Lutheran and United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations are Jubilee Sunday targets because the churches are Advocate's faith-based partners. Onetime Lutheran and UCC hospitals were acquired by Advocate, which also inherited their non-profit missions. Neither church has a financial interest in Advocate or role in day-to-day operation. But church representatives sit on Advocate's board and the church affiliations help with its image and tax exemptions.

Efforts by patients, employees and pastors have led the Lutheran Church and UCC to question their current relationships with Advocate and call for reforms.

Clifton Sanders called SEIU's Hospital Accountability Project a godsend. With its free legal help the church deacon was able to resolve his conflict with Advocate. "Christ doesn't reject you, but Advocate Christ Medical Center did," he said.

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