We are fighting for better patient care in Whatcom and Skagit counties and we need your support.

I voted yes for the union because I wanted to support my colleagues. Individual specialty groups have tried to work directly with management to improve provider retention and protect work/life balance. They have made limited progress which means that we continue to lose providers. This directly affects patient access to specialties such as OBGYN, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology. I have seen how frustrated my patients feel when they cannot be scheduled for a consult for six months or more after referrals are placed. I am hoping that as a union we can work with PeaceHealth to better support providers, protect work/life balance, and provide best possible care to PeaceHealth patients. 

Laurilee Reiber, Nurse Practitioner in Family Medicine

We work with so many wonderful people at PeaceHealth; too many have chosen to leave recently as well. Healthcare has been especially challenging over the past 5 years, but we believe we could keep good caregivers by making just a few key changes. Unfortunately, PeaceHealth doesn’t seem to listen to those of us who provide your care. We’ve organized to try to gain a greater voice in decision making, fully believing this would improve your interactions with our system and make our work more sustainable. Please voice your support for our efforts.

Your Cardiology Team of Advanced Registered Nurse Practicians and Physician Assistants.

Graham Meeks, Will Brenton, Tim Pasquarello, Lori Burton, Pam Parker, Chris Anderson, Dave Flarry, Duncan Burns

I became a midwife because I believe in the transformative power of folks going through life transitions: puberty, childbirth, menopause, etc. Listening to folks as they navigate these transitions and then helping them meet their goals is key to what midwives do. I chose to unionize in order to preserve, and hopefully improve, the time that I am able to spend with patients. In almost twenty years as a midwife, I have experienced a slow, but steady, increase in the number of people that I am expected to see in a day. I have been asked to see clinic patients while on call, interfering with my ability to provide labor support to birthing folks.

Unionizing will allow us to have a seat at the table where decisions are made. In turn, this will improve the quality of patient care by promoting our ability to provide patient-centered, individualized care. It is time for us to stand up collectively and protect the sacred relationship between clinician and patient. This is not achievable by one person, or one specialty, but can be achieved by one strong voice as a united group of advanced practice clinicians. We ask for your support so that we can continue to provide the care that the community deserves. 

Erin Swanda, Certified Nurse Midwife, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

As a Physician Assistant specializing in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, I have a deep passion for helping patients recover from fractures, sports injuries, and post-operative challenges. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing someone return to their active lifestyle after an injury or surgery. However, over the past ten years, I’ve faced increasing pressure from management to see more patients, shorten appointment times, and work with fewer resources - all of which compromise the quality of care I strive to deliver. This is why I chose to unionize. By joining together, PAs and other Advanced Practice Clinicians at PeaceHealth can have a collective voice and a seat at the administrative table, ensuring we can continue to provide the high level of care our patients deserve.

Lara Danskin, Physician Assistant in Sports Medicine