A major healthcare provider is being fined by the state of California for failing to protect a nurse who later died from COVID-19. Mike Hill, a nurse at Sutter Health’s Alta Bates hospital in Oakland, says working conditions at the beginning of the pandemic were often dangerous.
There was a lack of PPE (personal protective equipment) such as N-95 masks, gowns, gloves, all of that,” said Hill. “Those were all in short supply at times.”
As a result, Cal/OSHA issued eight citations against Sutter, including one for failing to isolate COVID-positive patients, and fined the healthcare provider 155-thousand dollars. Hill says those conditions are what led to his colleague Janine Paiste-Ponder dying from COVID-19 in July 2020. Sutter Health is appealing the fine and issued the following statement: “We disagree with Cal/OSHA’s findings and immediately appealed the citations. None of the findings are specific to the passing of our beloved colleague. We continue to mourn her loss and are disappointed that her memory is being used for political gain.”