Russ Olivo, Woonsocket Call, January 3, 2012 Woonsocket – Boston-based Steward Health Care System has hired a prominent government lobbyist for assistance in dealing with state regulators handling its application to buy financially struggling Landmark Medical Center. Former Warwick Mayor Joseph Walsh of Government Strategies Inc. has already asked some legislators to rally constituents in support of the merger, which may be the Cass Avenue hospital’s only hope for survival. “What I’m looking to do is make sure the people in Providence don’t get the impression that the community takes the hospital for granted,” said State Senator Marc A. Cote ... Steward

Boston Globe, December 29, 2011 A hospital workers union has criticized Rhode Island regulators for raising the possibility that state officials could pull the plug on a proposed merger between a Boston-based hospital chain and a financially troubled medical center in Woonsocket. A state judge in June approved plans for Steward Health Care Systems to acquire Landmark Medical Center and the two filed their application to the state in October. State health officials say the application is incomplete and gave Landmark and Steward until January 11 to file a complete application.

Regulators may pull plug on proposal. Associated Press, December 29, 2011 Woonsocket - A hospital workers union has criticized Rhode Island regulators for raising the possibility it will pull the plug on a proposal for a Boston-based hospital chain to merge with a financially troubled medical center in Woonsocket. A state judge in June approved plans for Steward Health Care Systems to acquire Landmark Medical Center and the two filed their application to the state in October. State health officials say the application is incomplete and gave Landmark and Steward until January 11 to file a complete application.

Russ Olivo, Woonsocket Call, December 28, 2011 Woonsocket - State regulators care so little about jobs and the local economy that they're willing to enforce an arbitrary deadline to terminate consideration of Landmark Medical Center's application to merge with Steward Health Care System, the hospital's employees union charged Tuesday. Chris Callaci, general counsel for the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, said the handling of the application by the state Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General has been marked by such a “monumental failure of leadership” that Governor Chafee should step in to rectify the situation. ... Union

Christina Myers, WPRO, December 27, 2012 United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP) held a press conference Tuesday about the fate of Landmark Medical Center after the Department of Health talked about 'pulling the plug.' The union's General Counsel Chris Callaci says the conference is a reaction to Department of Health spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth's comment in the Providence Journal, "We don't want to just pull the plug and say we're done. Without a deal there, what happens?" Beardsworth's quote appeared in an article outlining a decision ... to give the company looking to buy Landmark, Steward Health Care Systems, a two week extension on filing paperwork. ... Department

WPRO, December 23, 2012 State officials have said an application for a Boston-based hospital chain to merge with a financially troubled medical center in Woonsocket is incomplete. Steward Health Care Systems and Landmark Medical Center have been given a two-week extension to submit the remaining documents needed to complete their application. The application will be reviewed by the state Department of Health and the Attorney General's office. Health Department Director Michael Fine called it a "one-time extension." The requested information is due January 11. A state judge in June approved plans for Steward to acquire Landmark, and the two filed their formal application to the state in October. The WPRO digital news room and The Associated Press

Says cuts needed to stabilize finances. Nancy Krause, WPRI, August 15, 2011 Woonsocket - Landmark Medical Center announced plans Monday to layoff several employees and close an outpatient center. The financially troubled hospital in Woonsocket has been in court receivership since 2008, and the cuts were necessary to stabilize the medical center's finances, the hospital said in a news release. "The staff reductions we are announcing today have long been expected and were publicly discussed," said Richard Charest, President of Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island. ... Landmark

Associated Press, August 15, 2011 Woonsocket - Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket is laying off employees and closing an outpatient center in Johnston. WRNI-FM reports the layoffs are taking place throughout the hospital system. The nurses' union tells the station that about 20 members are losing their jobs. The hospital is also closing its respiratory therapy service in Johnston. Landmark spokesman Bill Fischer says the layoffs will help stabilize hospital finances. Landmark has been in court receivership since 2008. Massachusetts-based Steward Health Care System has agreed to buy the hospital. The sale must be approved by state regulators before being finalized.

Providence Journal, July 15, 2011 Kent Hospital and the union representing its 600 nurses have reached a three-year contract agreement. In a joint news release notable for its positive tone, the Warwick hospital and the United Nurses and Allied Professionals said the “negotiation process was productive, positive and carried out in an atmosphere of mutual respect.” Union president Rose Desnoyers said the agreement protected benefits and pensions, included “modest wage increases” and makes progress on workplace issues. Nurses at Kent were first organized in 2008.

Dale P. Faulkner, Westerly Sun, May 18, 2011 Westerly - The layoff of 29 employees of The Westerly Hospital was scheduled to begin today, and an additional 59 employees will have their hours reduced. Additionally, 20 open positions will be eliminated. Hospital officials said Tuesday that they are bringing staff levels in line with the demand for services. "What we're doing is staffing to what our true volumes are," said Margaret Austin, vice president for clinical services. Before the layoffs, the hospital had 859 full- and part-time employees, equating to 613 full-time equivalents. ... Fewer

Consulting firm recommends scheduling changes in the face of declining patient volumes. Judy Benson, The Day, May 18, 2011 Westerly - A decline in revenues due to fewer patients so far this year led to Westerly Hospital's decision to lay off 29 employees, reduce the hours of 59 others and change work schedules for remaining staff, hospital officials said. The actions announced Tuesday morning are the result of recommendations from Carpédia, an Oakville, Ontario, management consulting firm hired by the hospital, on how to make hospital operations more cost-effective and efficient. The hospital retained Carpédia for about $1 million ... Layoffs

Russ Olivo, Woonsocket Call, April 27, 2011 Woonsocket - After nearly three years in receivership, Landmark Medical Center was expected to learn the identity this morning of a for-profit buyer who pledges to nurse the troubled facility back to health. Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein scheduled a hearing for 9 to make the announcement after four contenders bid on the hospital's assets and the proposals were aired in open court last week. Three for-profit companies are in the running for Landmark ... Announcement

Providence Journal, October 17, 2010 David N. Cicilline, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 1st District, won the endorsement Friday of the United Nurses & Allied Professionals, a union that represents 5,500 nurses, therapists and support staff. “My grandmother was a proud graduate of Saint Joe’s and a registered nurse for many years at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, so I am especially excited that the United Nurses and Professionals union has endorsed my campaign for Congress,” said Cicilline. ... Nursing

Health care workers back plans to protect Social Security, improve health care reform in Rhode Island. United Nurses & Allied Professionals, October 15, 2010 Democrat David Cicilline earned the strong backing of the United Nurses & Allied Professionals today for his campaign for Congress. The endorsement comes just two days after Cicilline picked up support from the Alliance for Retired Americans, an organization representing nearly 20,000 Rhode Islanders. Cicillline has emphasized his commitment to expanding health care coverage throughout his campaign for Congress. ... United

United Nurses & Allied Professionals, June 22, 2010 The RI Hospital UNAP was featured today on a Turn-to-10 flashback of a rally and march against mandatory overtime that we held on June 22, 2000 outside RI Hospital and the Coro Building. The State of Rhode Island passed a law outlawing mandatory overtime in 2007. ... TV