Nurses & Techs File State Complaint Against UHS Hospitals for Endangering Patients

Las Vegas Nurses and Technicians from UHS Desert Springs and UHS Valley hospitals filed a complaint against the for-profit hospital chain alleging violations of laws protecting patients. The complaint was filed with the Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification, the state agency charged with protecting the safety of the public and enforcing state regulations regarding the quality of care.

The complaint was filed with the Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification (BLC), the state agency charged with protecting the safety of the public and enforcing state regulations regarding the quality of care. Our complaint asked the agency to open an investigation immediately to protect the lives of patients.

The complaint alleges that UHS management routinely and knowingly violates provisions of the Nevada Administrative Code on nurse staffing levels, appropriate care of patients, and assessment of patients. Sixty-one nurses and techs signed off on the eighty-four incidents of violations documented in the complaint. The violations were documented through the hundreds of Assignment Despite Objection forms RNs and Techs have filled out.

We first went to the BLC with our concerns regarding Valley Hospital and Desert Springs Hospital’s lack of compliance with the important patient safety laws in October 2006. In January 2007, the BLC found the hospitals to be out of compliance with state staffing laws and imposed remedies to improve patient care standards.

We fill out Assignment Despite Objection forms because we are determined to ensure that the hospitals are held accountable. Join us as we work to make sure that we continue to improve standards in our next contract!
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