FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Primary Care Physicians at MGH and BWH Take Bold Step to Unionize, Filing Petition with NLRB

November 18, 2024 — BOSTON, MA — In a historic move, Primary Care Physicians at Mass General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have filed a union election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Faced with the growing corporatization of healthcare, collapsing primary care patient access, and the moral injury caused by systemic challenges, these physicians are uniting as members of Doctors Council to protect the future of primary care and provide the care that patients deserve.

The filing represents a pivotal moment for the field of primary care, which is under increasing strain as administrative and financial pressures jeopardize the ability of physicians to provide comprehensive and equitable patient treatment. By forming a union, MGH and BWH Primary Care Physicians aim to collectively address these challenges, advocating for the necessary resources, staffing, and support systems that will allow them to deliver high-quality care for their patients.

Dr. Kristen Gunning, practicing at MGH Bulfinch Medical Group says the institution must lead by example. “Primary care is in crisis in Massachusetts and nationwide. Mass General and Brigham Women’s Hospitals are world leaders in medicine. We are excited to collaborate with hospital leadership in leading the way to save primary care.”

By organizing with Doctors Council, these physicians will advance the national conversation around primary care and demand a seat at the table to advocate for their practices and patients. Their efforts address the urgent need to reform how health care systems operate, prioritizing patient well-being and physician support over administrative profit margins.

“I decided to become a doctor because I hoped to fix our broken healthcare system from the inside,” said Dr. Elsa Imbimbo, a physician at MGH Internal Medical Associates. “I chose primary care because it placed me at the foundation of healthcare where I can best understand and advocate for my patients. It is clear to me that by unionizing, we will have the influence we need to make meaningful changes to this professional work and improve our care for patients.”

“We as primary care doctors have allowed ourselves to be slowly stripped of our voice in the critical health care decision making process,” says Dr. Jiani Guo, of BWH Faulkner Community Physicians at Hyde Park. “Only with the power of collective bargaining can we push back against the rising tide of corporate interests. Only through unionizing can we help to restore the soul of our profession and improve patient outcomes. Only then will our health care system move away from the destructive trajectory of profit-driven models and rise up as truly the leader in health care.”

About Doctors Council:

Doctors Council is a union of doctors, for doctors, run by doctors. As the country’s oldest and largest union of attending physicians, Doctors Council works to negotiate contracts that elevate the role of physicians, enhance the patient care experience, and create a dignified work environment for medical professionals.

Media contact:

Gabrielle Hanley

Lead Organizer

ghanley@doctorscouncil.org

Marisa Powell, Esq.

Lead Organizer

mpowell@doctorscouncil.org

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