Physicians at ChristianaCare locations in Delaware and Maryland voted to join the Doctors Council, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.
Of the 431 votes cast, 288 were in favor of union representation and 130 were against it, according to a June 28 union news release. Thirteen votes were challenged.
The decision marks the first attending physician union in Delaware, the first union at ChristianaCare, and the largest union of private sector physicians in the U.S., according to the Doctors Council.
Union representatives said the physicians' decision is a response to ongoing concerns about corporatization and their professional autonomy.
"The decision to unionize reflects our commitment to advocating for the highest standards of patient care, improving physician well-being to avoid burnout, and fostering a collaborative environment that benefits both our healthcare professionals and the community we serve," Bryan Haimes, MD, a ChristianaCare emergency medicine pediatrician, said in the release.
A ChristianaCare spokesperson shared the following statement with Becker's: "ChristianaCare respects the right of our physicians to determine whether or not they want to be represented by a union. We are proud of the outstanding care provided by ChristianaCare physicians to our patients and community. As always, our focus remains on our mission of serving our neighbors."