Nearly 200 nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) and National Nurses United (NNU), paramedics, EMTs, residents, faith and community members gathered today at The Commons in downtown Minneapolis to demand state lawmakers act now to protect Hennepin County Medical Center and secure the long-term funding needed before the legislative session ends.
Today’s event included members of the Minnesota Nurses Association, National Nurses United, the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2474 (AFSCME), Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), faith leaders from ISAIAH Minnesota and community supporters who joined forces to confront the financial crisis threatening HCMC, Minnesota’s busiest Level I trauma center and a vital safety-net hospital.
Event attendees received free wellness checks, enjoyed live music and food, plus children at the event received a free copy of NNU’s children’s story Medi Bear Saves the Hospital.
Earlier this month, NNU placed HCMC on “RED ALERT” status as part of a national campaign highlighting hospitals at risk of devastating service cuts or closure following federal healthcare cuts under H.R. 1.
HCMC cares for patients from across Minnesota and the Midwest, providing services no other hospital in the region can perform. It operates the only 24/7 fully accredited permanent hyperbaric chamber, delivers specialized trauma care, and trains the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Nurses warn that, absent immediate action from lawmakers, the consequences will reach far beyond one hospital.
“Elected officials at every level of government need to focus on protecting access to vital healthcare. HCMC is essential to Minnesota’s healthcare system and a lifeline for patients across the Midwest,” said Janell Johnson Thiele, MNA tri-chair and registered nurse at HCMC. “Without long-term solutions, this hospital—and the care thousands of patients rely on—is at risk. The time for short-term fixes is over.”
Hospitals across the Twin Cities already face chronic understaffing and overcrowding. If HCMC closes or cuts services, even more patients will be forced into packed emergency rooms, wait times will grow, and patient outcomes across Minnesota will suffer.
Nearly 1,500 registered nurses work at HCMC, represented by MNA and NNU—they stand alongside first responders and community allies. Together, they are calling on lawmakers to recognize the critical statewide public health asset HCMC is and deliver permanent funding solutions before adjournment.
As the legislative session draws to a close, nurses will keep organizing, speaking out, and demanding action to protect patients, healthcare workers, and the future of care in Minnesota.
