On Thursday, UW Health nurses reported staff and patient safety concerns to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), according to NBC15. The move follows years of demands from nurses union SEIU Wisconsin for improved UW Health working conditions.
Among the nurses’ complaints is the health system’s alleged intent to remove a critical care team called “Save Our Shift” or “SOS,” which addresses staffing gaps and responds to emergency situations. UW Health stated, “The SOS is a role and not a team. It is typically fulfilled through our critical care team.” It also responded to nurses’ allegations of staffing shortages, saying it now has an additional available team that has been expanded to provide 24/7 support.
The full UW Health Statement is available here.
