{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-patient-care-must-be-a-priority-in-hospital-workforce-negotiations", "Casey: Patient Care Must Be a Priority in Hospital Workforce Negotiations", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), urged that patient care remain a top priority in workforce negotiations at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.\u00a0 In a letter, Casey highlighted the skilled healthcare workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and called for a fair resolution as soon as possible.\r\n\u201cAll parties must work collaboratively to ensure that patient care remains the top priority and that negotiations move forward as soon as practicable,\u201d wrote Senator Casey.\u00a0 \u201cWe are fortunate to have an excellent skilled medical workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I know maintaining that level of quality medical personnel is a goal we share.\u201d\r\nThe text of Senator Casey\u2019s letter is below:\r\nMr. Cornelio Catena\r\nCEO\r\nWilkes-Barre General Hospital\r\n575 North River Street\r\nWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18764\r\nDear Mr. Catena:\r\nThe Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) recently contacted my office to express their concerns regarding current contract negotiations at Community Health Systems\u2019 Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.\u00a0\r\nAs you know, PASNAP represents more than 400 nurses at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.\u00a0 I know that you share my belief that patient safety is of paramount importance in the delivery of health care.\u00a0 To that end, all parties must work collaboratively to ensure that patient care remains the top priority and that negotiations move forward as soon as practicable.\u00a0 We are fortunate to have an excellent skilled medical workforce in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I know maintaining that level of quality medical personnel is a goal we share.\u00a0 Negotiations moving forward therefore should place an emphasis on the fair and equitable treatment of members of your workforce and should ensure that patient care is not in any way compromised.\u00a0\r\nAs this process moves to the next phase, I urge you to work with PASNAP to ensure a resolution is reached as quickly and as fairly as possible.\u00a0 Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.\u00a0 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly or have your staff contact my office.\r\nSincerely,\r\nRobert P. Casey, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn Rizzo 202-228-6367", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-patient-care-must-be-a-priority-in-hospital-workforce-negotiations"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8970052003860474, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}