New Orleans nurses, community members to hold rally outside Spirit of Charity gala

Nurses and patients urge LCMC board members to hold executives accountable to the legacy of Charity Hospital

Nurses from University Medical Center New Orleans (UMCNO), patients, and community members will hold a rally and community listening circle on Friday, Oct. 3, outside of LCMC's Spirit of Charity Foundation Gala in New Orleans, La., announced National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) today. They will highlight LCMC's meager investments in charity care and lack of patient access to affordable health care.

"Since LCMC opened UMC in 2015 to replace Charity Hospital, LCMC has consistently prioritized profits over patient health, worker safety, and affordable care." said Dorothy Stencel, RN in the research unit. "We find it deeply disappointing that LCMC will use the memory of the "Spirit of Charity" to host fancy galas, but our most vulnerable patients are seeing few of the benefits of charity care."

Who: Nurses at LCMC's University Medical Center New Orleans
What: Rally and Community Circle
When: Friday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m.
Where: City Park, outside the Arbor Room / Popp Fountain

According to tax documents, UMCNO has not used any funds for charity care that were not offset by outside revenue, meaning 0 percent of UMCNO's total expenses are going towards charity care. Overall, the LCMC system's total cost of charity care is only 0.82 percent of its total expenses, far below the national average of 2.6 percent.

As LCMC has betrayed its mission to uphold the legacy of Charity Hospital, the system also benefits from its tax-exempt status. UMCNO receives far more in tax benefits than it spends on community investments, creating what the Lown Institute calls a fair share deficit. According to the Lown Institute, UMCNO has a $29 million fair share deficit, the highest of any hospital in New Orleans.

UMCNO nurses have sent invitations to the UMCNO and LCMC boards inviting them to their community listening circle.

"For years, nurses and patients have sounded the alarm that LCMC is not upholding the spirit of Charity," Stencel continued. "Unfortunately, LCMC executives have brushed aside our concerns. We hope the board members will come listen to our stories and help us pave a new path forward at University Medical Center."

In 2023, when the City of New Orleans offered to partner with local health care providers to acquire and erase the medical debt of qualifying patients LCMC barely participated in the program. Despite being the largest health care provider in the New Orleans area, LCMC accounted for less than 10 percent of patients receiving debt forgiveness.

"LCMC claims to uphold the Spirit of Charity, but it is clear LCMC executives have different priorities. Since 2013, CEO Greg Feirn has made more than $20 million," said Kisha Montes, RN in the behavioral health unit. "Executives have taken home over $300 million. Meanwhile, there is chronic short staffing and patients report less access to charity care. So, our question for CEO Greg Feirn is: Where do the gala donations go?"

UMCNO nurses recently launched a website about the betrayal of Charity Hospital's legacy. 

NNOC/NNU represents more than 600 nurses at UMCNO. NNOC/NNU is not asking anyone to stop work or refuse to pick up or deliver at the event.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.