FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

SENATOR ANWAR CALLS FOR TRINITY HEALTH TO REVERSE DANGEROUS, CARE-IMPACTING WORKER NOTICE

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) called for Trinity Health to reverse a recent announcement made to more than 100 physicians at Hartford’s St. Francis Hospital, Waterbury’s St. Mary’s Hospital and Stafford’s Johnson Memorial Hospital that has dangerous impacts on patient care and physician retention levels across the state should it move forward.

Trinity Health recently sent a message to more than 100 emergency room physicians and Hospitalist physicians, informing them of a 90-day notice for them to shift their employment to a California-based company under risk of otherwise losing their jobs. Sen. Anwar, as the Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, is alarmed by this decision due to its impact on quality of care not only for patients but physician availability amid an already-stressed environment for medical staffing in Connecticut.

“Our state is already experiencing a severe shortage of physicians and this decision by Trinity threatens the state’s efforts and efforts of all the health care systems to recruit and retain physicians.” said Sen. Anwar. “Not only would the loss of these physicians directly impact the patients receiving care from them – likely creating even more demand amid limited supply Connecticut – but it risks a ‘brain drain’ effect, where these talented workers, who have been established in our state for years and even decades, are forced to move elsewhere for employment. My colleagues and I have worked for years to address our state’s shortages of medical professionals and this irresponsible decision could hamper those efforts. Trinity should make decisions in the best interests of public health in our state, not their bottom line.”

Individuals involved with Trinity Health told Sen. Anwar that the company did not discuss the decision with medical leadership, and he noted that if people decide to continue their careers with Trinity and move out of state, that would limit emergency room coverage at three hospitals around the state. Up to two-thirds of patients receiving care would have that care impacted, which would especially harm acutely ill patients.

He further noted that these Trinity physicians also support UConn graduate medical programs, meaning such actions would have further negative consequences for soon-to-be physicians and medical professionals seeking to serve the state.