Members of the Illinois Nurses Association at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., have sued St. Louis-based Ascension and Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare, alleging chronic understaffing caused emotional distress and unsafe working conditions for nurses, according to a June 8 union news release and a copy of the complaint shared with Becker’s.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Will County, Ill., was brought by four current and former nurses who allege Ascension and Prime failed to follow staffing plans required under Illinois law and seek compensatory and punitive damages. The Illinois Nurses Association represents 584 nurses at the hospital.
The lawsuit follows Prime Healthcare’s March 2025 acquisition of Saint Joseph Medical Center and seven other Illinois hospitals from Ascension. In May, nurses and Illinois lawmakers separately raised concerns about staffing levels and service reductions at the hospital following the ownership change. The complaint alleges staffing-related issues occurred under both Ascension’s and Prime’s ownership of the hospital.
“Every nurse at St. Joseph’s has seen a patient suffer because the floor wasn’t staffed properly — whether that’s a patient falling, experiencing bed sores because they weren’t turned over in time, or missing a medication dose,” Mary Sue Bulger, RN, a plaintiff in the case, said in the union release. “It’s traumatizing to watch and know you couldn’t help.”
According to the complaint, nurses filed hundreds of “assignment despite objection” forms documenting staffing concerns that they allege were routinely ignored. The lawsuit also alleges Ascension and Prime repeatedly violated the hospital’s staffing plan, which is required under the Illinois Hospital Licensing Act.
“Ascension does not comment on ongoing litigation but is committed to vigorously defending these allegations,” an Ascension spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
A Saint Joseph Medical Center spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s:
“Saint Joseph Medical Center does not comment on pending litigation, and the majority of these allegations involve periods of time under previous ownership. Patient care is always our top priority with recent investments to support caregivers, and our current staffing practices align with national best practices for quality and safety.”
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