NO Walk Out: Public Update Regarding Employment Levels at Sierra View and Strike Team Assistance

We have received various reports of rumors circulating on social media and the community regarding employment levels at Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC). SVMC administration is committed to bringing our community accurate and transparent information. There has NOT been a staff walk out at Sierra View Medical Center, despite widespread disinformation circulating in the community. We believe the rumors may have started from a misunderstanding related to our recent surge in hospitalizations. While we do have a shortage of health care workers to accommodate the increased patient care demand, so do all hospitals in the area and many throughout the nation. Rest assured. Sierra View leadership has immediately addressed the surge and additional staffing needs by working in partnership with the Hospital Council of Northern & Central California, Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), and State of California Operations. Through these partnerships, EMSA provided a “Strike Team” of 5 paramedics and 6 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to help increase the staffing at the hospital during the current crisis conditions resulting from a surge in patients impacting emergency department operations. At the same time, the hospital was put on diversion by EMSA. Diversion refers to situations where a hospital emergency department is unable to provide care for additional patients and redirects ambulances to take patients to other hospitals nearby. Working closely with the additional support mechanisms provided from partnerships listed above helped our emergency department through the evening of September 4, 2021 as we went from holding 25 patient admissions in our 18-bed emergency department, to holding 13 patient admissions this morning, September 5, 2021. We were also taken off diversion a little after 9 p.m. thanks to the additional support.

In addition to the help last night, EMSA is sending a team of 6 Registered Nurses (RNs) and 1 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to the hospital today, September 5, to help increase staffing for the week. We are counting on you to help us share verified information and to help us combat misinformation especially now when our community needs honest and fact-based information. Please email any concerns directly to marketing@sierra-view.com with your name and number if you would like a response. If you are a nurse or other health care professional ready to help on the frontline in Porterville, please ask us about our career opportunities.