The Proof Is Right In Front of Us
5K Providence workers enter third week of strike
How America's Healthcare System Shows It Could Work (When Forced To)
By Stacy Chamberlain
In Oregon, hospitals have proven they can fix healthcare’s biggest problems overnight—but only when it serves their bottom line. Because to hospitals and insurance companies, the system isn’t broken – they’re still raking in record profits. The system is only broken for patients (who pay more money for care that isn't making us healthier than people in other developed countries) and caregivers (who are stretched too thin).
On January 10, nearly 5,000 frontline caregivers at Providence Health went on strike in response to dangerous understaffing, leading to both employee burnout and unsafe conditions for patients. To replace the striking workers Providence Health is spending $25.39 million per week on temporary replacement staff [Oregon Nurses Association, 2024]. They’ve achieved full staffing levels overnight—the same levels they insisted were impossible just weeks ago when caregivers asked for increased staffing levels to promote patient care.
This isn’t speculation. These aren’t projections. These are real numbers exposing Providence’s deliberate choice to prioritize profits over care.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Let’s track Providence’s actions:
305 unsafe staffing complaints filed in 2024, before the strike [Oregon Health Authority, 2024].
$1,400 per day per worker paid to temporary nurses during the strike [ONA Strike Report, 2024].
Full staffing achieved almost overnight, with the safe patient ratios and adequate break coverage caregivers have been requesting for months suddenly possible.
Meanwhile, Providence CEO Rod Hochman’s compensation paints a damning picture of where his company’s priorities lie:
Compensation (million dollars)
2012: $2.5 million [Providence Annual Report, 2012].
2016: $4.1 million [SEC Filings, 2016].
2019: $7.8 million [Modern Healthcare, 2019].
2022: $10.5 million [Healthcare Executive Compensation Report, 2022].
That’s a 320% increase in executive pay over a decade, all while:
Patient wait times doubled [CMS Hospital Compare Data, 2024].
Care quality metrics declined [JAMA Study, 2024].
Staffing complaints hit record highs [OHA Database, 2024].
If Providence can afford $1,400 a day per temporary staff, they can afford to pay a fair wage to the people who provide us care every day. The problem isn’t resources—it’s priorities.
A Global Reality Check
While American healthcare executives build fortunes, other countries prove better systems are possible:
In Norway: [OECD Health Statistics, 2024]
The highest-paid hospital CEO earns $250,000 annually.
Nurse-to-patient ratios are capped at 1:4.
Healthcare education is free or heavily subsidized.
Healthcare costs per capita are 40% of the U.S.
In Germany: [WHO European Health Report, 2024]
Medical school is tuition-free.
Hospitals are legally required to meet safe staffing levels.
Mandatory rest periods between shifts prevent burnout.
These systems deliver better outcomes at a fraction of the cost.
The Media's Disconnect
Headlines often focus on patient disruptions during strikes, blaming caregivers for delayed care. What they don’t tell you is why this disruption happens:
Profit-driven hospitals create unsafe staffing levels, and overworked and burnt-out caregivers force them to take action.
Hospitals like Providence now spend millions to achieve the staffing they previously claimed was impossible.
The system was failing long before this strike. The disruption isn’t due to caregiver demands—it’s due to executives’ refusal to create a system where caregivers can improve patients’ health without sacrificing their own.
What We Must Demand
The strike reveals a simple truth: hospitals can do better, but they must be forced to act. Here’s how:
Safe Staffing Standards
Legally mandated patient-to-caregiver ratios [California Nursing Ratios Study, 2024].
Criminal penalties for violations.
Regular public reporting and independent oversight.
Executive Accountability
Cap CEO pay at 10x the median caregiver salary.
Tie compensation to patient outcomes.
Criminal penalties for profit-driven care denials.
Debt-Free Education
Investing in the people who provide these essential services with free and supported education and training for nurses, doctors, and other caregivers.
Loan forgiveness for people providing care.
Profit Reinvestment
Require hospitals to reinvest profits into staffing and patient care.
Enforce transparency in spending.
A Call to Action
This isn’t just about Providence or Oregon; it’s about every patient and caregiver in America.
Right now, hospitals are proving what’s possible when they’re forced to act in the interests of patients and caregivers, not just their bottom lines. They can staff safely, pay fairly, provide quality care, and put patients first.
The public is watching. The solutions are clear. The time for change is now.
Because when those who care for us win, we all win.
Connect with Stacy
Stacy Chamberlain is a leader in systems change, workforce innovation, and reimagining the future of work to better support the individuals who make it happen. With a background in law and over two decades of labor leadership—including her role as Executive Director of one of Oregon’s largest unions—Stacy brings unique expertise in creating sustainable, people-centered solutions. As the founder of Flower Street Strategies, she drives critical conversations on healthcare, workforce reform, and systemic innovation, championing a vision that puts people first.
Learn more at www.flowerstreetstrategies.com or email her at stacy@flowerstreetstrategies.com.
