We at Bayada Nurses are aware of the nursing shortage in the United States today. We are also very much aware of the additional stress that you as nurses face everyday, and the increased demands of clients/patients as a result of the nursing shortage crisis.

As professionals and the "Heroes On The Home Front" that you are, we know that you are making every effort to provide the highest quality Home Health Care. In many cases, you are the "life line" to the patient.

We know there are times when your efforts are not recognized or appreciated by clients/patients. Often you work extra hours because there is no one to relieve you, and you know there is no way you can leave the patient alone. There are also times when clients don’t understand the roles of different Home Health Care professionals.

You provide incredible energy and tireless dedication to your profession and patients. We want you to know that Bayada Nurses recognizes the demands put on you. To this end we have initiated a Public Relations effort to make our clients, your patients, aware of the nursing shortage. We have asked for their understanding and for them to appreciate the efforts that Bayada Nurses Home Health Care professionals are making to provide quality care.

Please see the attached letter regarding the nursing shortage that was sent to Bayada Nurses clients.

October 10, 2000

NATIONWIDE NURSING SHORTAGE HITS HOME

Dear Bayada Nurses Client:

A June 2000, USA TODAY story titled "Whereas Florence Nightingale·USA faces nurse shortage" tells it all, there is a serious shortage in the Nursing profession.

I offer my deepest apologies if the current nursing shortage has caused any problems with the service we provide to you. It is recognized that there is a serious scarcity of nurses in the United States. I acknowledge that at times, the nursing shortage affects Bayada Nurses' ability to provide the highly reliable service for which we are known.

For 25 years, Bayada Nurses has provided home health services with compassion, excellence, and reliability. We are extremely distressed that the nursing shortage has reduced our ability to provide reliable service. I would like to explain the problem and our efforts to meet the challenge.

NOT ENOUGH AVAILABLE NURSES TO MEET GROWING DEMAND

Quite simply, too few people are entering the nursing field and too many are leaving. A CNN Interactive article titled "U.S. Nurse Shortage Growing Worse" (8/30/00), reported that nursing school enrollment has declined dramatically for five consecutive years, and the nations pool of nurses is expected to shrink further as current nurses retire. A study in The Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) also stated that the nursing shortage would become more acute when todays nurses, who average 44 years of age, start to retire. This will coincide with 78 million baby boomers reaching the age of 65, with increasing health care needs. The shortage results in greater demands on nurses time and availability.

THE NURSING PROFESSION IS NOT AS ATTRACTIVE AS IT WAS IN THE PAST

We are feeling the pinch now, and the problem is getting worse. According to a recent study by JAMA, "the number of available nurses is declining as a result of many young women opting for higher paying jobs and not wanting the difficult working conditions of the nursing profession." Some areas of concern for current or potential nurses include non-regular working hours, low pay, lack of appreciation, higher litigation risk, and increased responsibility.

WHAT IS BAYADA NURSES DOING TO MEET

THE NURSING SHORTAGE CHALLENGE?

Bayada Nurses is actively addressing the problem through an intense nurse recruitment campaign, using television, magazines, newspapers, direct mail, job fairs, employee referrals, and our web site. In addition, we are retaining the nurses already on our staff by offering flexible hours and a wide variety of cases. We are actively negotiating with insurance companies and government agencies for higher pay rates for our nurses. We expanded our training programs to attract and retain nurses to home care.

We balance the needs of our nurses and clients so we can provide maximum care and coverage. Sadly, at times, this means turning down new clients who may be in desperate need of care to ensure that our current clients needs are met first.

We have not solved the problem and we are frustrated, yet persistent.

YOU CAN HELP

You can help by understanding the nursing shortage is a real and serious problem, and we are doing everything in our power to address it. Our nurses help by working longer and harder, earning the title "Heroes on the Home Front." Our office staff is working twice as hard to find nurses as they did a few years ago. Their searching efforts may not be easily noticed, but I assure you that they understand your crisis. They are conscientious in their duties. Unfortunately, sometimes their efforts are in vain. Both they and I would appreciate your patience as we work to meet the challenges of the nursing shortage and provide the unsurpassed care for which Bayada Nurses is known.

We are here to help. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Mark Baiada
President and Founder