City of Milwaukee - File #: 221869

• File #: 221869
• Version: 1
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 3/21/2023
• In control: PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
• Final action: 4/18/2023
• Title: Substitute resolution urging Ascension St. Francis Hospital to reconsider the closure of its labor and delivery unit.
• Sponsors: ALD. ZAMARRIPA, ALD. SPIKER, ALD. DIMITRIJEVIC, ALD. PEREZ, ALD. BORKOWSKI, ALD. RAINEY, ALD. COGGS, ALD. BROSTOFF, ALD. MURPHY, ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. CHAMBERS JR., ALD. STAMPER, ALD. WESTMORELAND, ALD. A. PRATT, ALD. TAYLOR
• Indexes: HOSPITALS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/21/2023	1	MAYOR	SIGNED
4/18/2023	1	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	15:0
3/31/2023	1	PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION; Minutes note: Appearing: Sponsor - Ald. Zamarripa Council member added as Co-sponsors: Borkowski, Rainey, Coggs, and Brostoff. There were no objections.	Pass	5:0
3/30/2023	1	CITY CLERK	DRAFT SUBMITTED
3/27/2023	0	CITY CLERK	ASSIGNED TO

Number

221869

Version

SUBSTITUTE 1

Reference

Sponsor

ALD. ZAMARRIPA, SPIKER, DIMITRIJEVIC, PEREZ, BORKOWSKI, RAINEY, COGGS, BROSTOFF, MURPHY, BAUMAN, CHAMBERS, STAMPER, WESTMORELAND, PRATT, AND TAYLOR

Title

Substitute resolution urging Ascension St. Francis Hospital to reconsider the closure of its labor and delivery unit.

Analysis

This resolution urges Ascension Wisconsin to restore reduced services at its locations within the city of Milwaukee, and to fully restore the St. Francis Hospital labor and delivery unit, which was closed in late 2022. The resolution further urges Ascension Wisconsin to establish a one-year moratorium on any downsizing and service reductions at Milwaukee healthcare facilities. During that time, Ascension Wisconsin is urged to work with community leaders, elected officials and other local stakeholders to find alternatives to service reductions and ways of preserving healthcare services for Milwaukee residents, particularly in economically-distressed areas of the city.

Body

Whereas, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization, and among the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the United States, with a healthcare division that operates more than 2,600 sites of care across 19 states, including 142 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities; and

Whereas, Ascension Wisconsin operates 24 hospitals, including Columbia St. Mary’s and St. Francis Hospital; and

Whereas, St. Francis Hospital has been an important healthcare provider on Milwaukee’s South Side since 1956; and

Whereas, Ascension St. Francis was the only hospital with a labor and delivery unit on Milwaukee’s South Side; and

Whereas, Ascension Wisconsin announced the closure of its St. Francis labor and delivery unit at the end of 2022; and

Whereas, The elimination of labor and delivery services at St. Francis leaves no labor and delivery care facility on Milwaukee’s South Side, and will force patients, many of whom are immigrant Spanish speakers and other people of color, and their families to travel further to obtain necessary healthcare services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that Ascension Wisconsin is urged to restore reduced services in the City of Milwaukee, and in particular the full restoration of the St. Francis labor and delivery unit; and, be it

Further Resolved, That Ascension Wisconsin is urged to establish a one-year moratorium on any downsizing and service reductions at Ascension healthcare facilities in Milwaukee; and, be it

Further Resolved, That during the one-year moratorium, Ascension Wisconsin is urged to work with community leaders, elected officials, and other local stakeholders to find alternatives to service reductions at Milwaukee healthcare facilities and ways of ensuring that vital healthcare services are preserved for Milwaukee residents, particularly in economically-distressed areas of the city.

Requestor

Drafter

LRB 178011-1

Christopher Hillard

3/28/2023