Samaritan nurse-anesthetists focus of discussion

Doctors express concern over morale

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital’s team of nurse-anesthetists, and their status, prompted a discussion about unspecified concerns at the hospital commission meeting Tuesday.

Physician Tom Tuszynski said the hospital has a high-quality team of nurse-anesthetists, but that he’s concerned about a changed atmosphere in the operating room. Tuszynski performs surgeries at Samaritan and is employed by Confluence Health-Moses Lake Clinic.

Tuszynski said two of the nurse-anesthetists who were eligible for retirement have decided to retire, and two more are moving to other jobs. Tuszynski said the nurse-anesthetists are dissatisfied with the hospital administration, but he didn’t give any specifics. He said the doctors and nurse-anesthetists thought their concerns were not being addressed by the hospital’s leadership.

Tuszynski said the CRNA team believed they had been discouraged from talking about their concerns. None of the nurse-anesthetists were at the meeting.

Physician Cecila Trydestam said she thought the CRNA’s concerns were legitimate, but that the hospital’s administration was aware of them and is working to address them. Commission chair Joe Akers said that would be commission’s expectation, and that he would hope the physicians would help create a positive atmosphere. “Definitely some alarming words,” Akers said.

Six physicians, including Tuszynksi, attended the meeting along with three administrators from Confluence Health. All of the surgeons attending the meeting work for Confluence Health.

Two other physicians expressed their concerns during the meeting, with Brannen Orton asking if the administration has any plans to replace the CRNAs that are leaving. Keith Ulnick said he was concerned the atmosphere might eventually affect patient care.

In a separate interview, Tuszynski declined to specify any of the nurse-anesthetist complaints, saying the two sides are working on a resolution. “I would like not to say anything else while the process continues,” he said.

Hospital officials released a statement after the meeting. “The board of commissioners and the senior leadership team take these concerns very seriously and are actively working to address them.”