Physicians to strike, citing inadequate PPE and no breaks

Clinicians at Indigo Urgent Care facilities say they’re denied N95 masks when testing for COVID-19.

MARYSVILLE — Clinicians at several local urgent care clinics say they’ve been barred from wearing N95 masks while testing patients for COVID-19 and were asked to work shifts of 12 hours or longer, seeing 40 to 50 patients, without required breaks.

Practitioners at Indigo Urgent Care facilities plan to strike Monday and Tuesday to demand more safety precautions and to try to persuade MultiCare, the care center’s parent company, to sign a contract with the groups’ union.

There are more than 20 Indigo Urgent Care clinics in the Puget Sound region, including three in Snohomish County.

Clinicians are required to wear disposable surgical masks and face shields, but they’re not allowed to wear N95 masks, said M.C. Nachtigal, a nurse practitioner at the Rainier Valley location. They also can’t bring their own masks from home.

Joe Crane, regional administrator for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, attributes that to what MultiCare calls the “indigo experience.” It’s a policy that’s meant to make the facilities feel homey, and involved greeting patients at the door and offering them cups of coffee, Crane said.

“To avoid disturbing the brand, it’s still just surgical masks and disposable gowns,” he said.

Practitioners routinely examine patients’ throats, take swabs and ask patients to breathe deeply in enclosed examination rooms.

The clinics see around 70 patients per day. Recently, many come for COVID-19 testing, Nachtigal said.

There’s also no Plexiglas shields protecting office staff at the front desk, Nachtigal said.

“These are literally the essential of the essential people, and they literally don’t even have what I can go to Home Depot and buy,” Crane said. “It’s just wrong.”

In a statement to the Herald, MultiCare said it provides staff with appropriate personal protective equipment.

“We disagree with the union’s characterization that our urgent care team members do not have access to sufficient supplies of appropriate PPE,” it reads. “All our urgent care clinics have the appropriate PPE they need today to do their jobs safely.”

Clinic employees had safety concerns before the pandemic began, Crane said.

“The initial concerns were about provider fatigue,” Nachtigal said.

Staff often work 12-hour shifts without taking breaks when there’s a line of patients, she said. And lately, there have been more and more people visiting the clinics for COVID-19 testing.

Practitioners are required to see patients waiting in the lobby even after closing, Nachtigal said.

The physicians at Indigo Urgent Care clinics have been in the bargaining process with MultiCare for nearly two years, Crane said.

Since the pandemic hit, they’ve added COVID-19 safety issues to their list of grievances.

The strike is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Julia-Grace Sanders: 425-339-3439; jgsanders@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @sanders_julia.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Oliver Popa, 7, poses with his book, "Drippey Plants a Garden," on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds 7-year-old publishes children’s book featuring ‘Drippey’ the bee

Oliver Popa’s first grade teacher said he should publish a longer version of a writing assignment. A year later, his mother — a publisher — helped made it happen.

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Director for the Snohomish County Health Department Dennis Worsham leads a short exercise during the Edge of Amazing event on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department faces up to $3.4 million in cuts

The two federal grants provided funding for immunizations and disease prevention awareness efforts.

2025 Emerging Leader DeLon Lewis (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
DeLon Lewis: Helping students succeed

Program specialist for Everett Community College believes leadership is about building bridges.

Daron Johnson, who runs Snohomish County Scanner, stands next to his scanner setup on Tuesday, April 1 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves

The plan for civilian police scanners to go dark pushed a host to shut down his popular breaking news feed.

Richie Gabriel, 1, jumps off the bottom of the slide as Matthew Gabriel looks down at him from the play structure at Hummingbird Hill Park on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds residents show up for Hummingbird Hill Park, Frances Anderson Center

After a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, the council tabled its votes for the two comprehensive plan amendments.

Students Haddie Shorb, 9, left, and brother Elden Shorb, 11, right, lead the ground breaking at Jackson Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett district breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement

The $54 million project will completely replace the aging elementary school. Students are set to move in by the 2026-27 school year.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County

The case was identified in an infant who likely contracted measles while traveling, the county health department said.

A Tesla drives along 41st Street on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations

The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back numerous vehicle pollution standards has left states wondering what’s next.

A person walks through the lot at Kia of Everett shopping for a car on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘The tariffs made me do it’: Customers move fast on cars

At one Everett dealership, customers move fast on cars ahead of Wednesday’s expected announcement on tariffs.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.