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Statement from Sal Rosselli about Providence plan to close SRMH pediatric unit

Statement bySal Rosselli, President Emeritus of National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) on Providence closing Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Pediatric Unit

The closure of the pediatric unit at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital is further evidence that Providence has little commitment for  preserving critical health services in Sonoma County.

Providence’s financial statements show that it has made a $190 million profit since taking over Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in 2016. But instead of investing those profits back into medical care for Sonoma County residents, Providence has repeatedly cut services and staffing. 

The services Providence has already eliminated in Sonoma County include:

  • The urgent care center in Santa Rosa
  • The urgent care center in Rohnert Park
  • The birthing center at Petaluma Valley Hospital
  • Outpatient labs in both Santa Rosa and Petaluma


If the closure of the 8-bed inpatient pediatric care unit goes into effect next year as Providence intends, it would force families in Sonoma County and neighboring counties to travel all the way to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco for care that had always been provided in Santa Rosa. 

UCSF Health should not be helping Providence force families to travel 60 miles – and often two hours – for care that should be available in their community, and Providence should not be allowed to continually cut services in Sonoma County despite having reaped massive profits from its operations in the county. Providence’s service cuts are not the actions of a mission-driven nonprofit, but a monopolistic profiteer.

While Providence is cutting services in Sonoma County, it is also cutting retirement benefits for its workers and handing over operations of its hospice and home health operations to Compassus, a private equity-backed company.

NUHW represents more than 1,200 healthcare workers who provide care at Providence hospitals, hospices and home health services in Sonoma County. Our members stand ready to partner with local leaders to oppose this closure and protect patient care in Sonoma County.

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The National Union of Healthcare Workers is a member-led movement that represents 19,000 healthcare workers in California and Hawai’i, including more than 2,200 Providence workers in Northern California and more than 3,500 Providence workers throughout the state.

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