PATIENT-WORKER
Collaborative
For Safe Staffing in Hospitals
Who we are
The Patient Worker Collaborative is a new coalition of patients and their family members, healthcare workers, and community partners working to pass the Safe Staffing Act of 2025 in the Maryland General Assembly. Collectively, our coalition represents over 1 million Marylanders who are concerned about and affected by the hospital short staffing crisis.
How’s Maryland Doing?
Compared to other states
46th
in staffed beds
36th
in # of nurses
per 1,000 population
45th
in nurses’ salaries
(adjusted for cost of living)
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
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“When my 75 year old husband was seriously ill with COVID, I observed two nurses at my local hospital being overwhelmed with about 35 ER patients. He left without treatment after we waited 5 hours. During that time, he was accidentally injured by one of the two nurses, so he left with a large bandage the entire length of his right arm.
It became clear to me that an understaffed ER was more dangerous than taking him home.”
— Anna Palmisano
Marylanders For Patient Rights -
“Nurses are burning out because of the mental and physical stress we are faced with. I’m 24 years old and am already experiencing burnout. …nurses in my generation are overwhelmed at the prospect of facing this short staffing crisis. Having a seat at the table to give our perspective will help more nurses in my generation stay in healthcare long term. That is why the Safe Staffing Act is so vital.”
— Eric'ka Dunkins
Registered Nurse
Prince George's County -
“Poor staffing conditions are associated with higher mortality rates and longer lengths of stay for patients.
Staffing conditions and staff burnout must be addressed – if they are not, we know it will be increasingly difficult for patients to get care when they need it, health costs will rise, and health disparities will increase.”
— Megan Peters
Alzheimer's Association
Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution
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Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution ~