Resident physicians and fellows at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have voted against joining the Committee of Interns and Residents, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.
Of 499 eligible voters, 373 cast ballots in late December, according to the National Labor Relations Board. The physicians voted 195-178 against.
Following the outcome, a CHOP spokesperson expressed gratitude for the resident physicians and fellows.
"We firmly believe the best employee experience is achieved by direct, two-way communication and collaboration," the spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's. "We will continue to partner with our residents and fellows to find ways to improve or strengthen that experience."
The spokesperson added: "They, along with the rest of our workforce, make it possible for CHOP to provide the very best care to our patients and families — and we are very grateful for their contributions. We remain committed to developing positive and productive relationships with all of our workforce members regardless of union status."
Natalie LaBossier, MD, a pediatrics resident physician at CHOP, also shared a statement with Becker's.
"It was a tough election, but we are a resilient group and remain proud of the work we did," Dr. LaBossier said.
"We certainly plan to continue our work at CHOP, and our focus right now is looking forward and supporting the residents and fellows across Philadelphia in their union elections. We know that a union contract is the best way to ensure that our healthcare system prioritizes physician and patient well-being."
The election took place about a month after more than 3,000 resident physicians and fellows from Philadelphia-based Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Temple University Hospital, Jefferson Health, and Jefferson's Einstein Healthcare Network announced unionization efforts. Residents at Temple, Jefferson and Jefferson's Einstein have not yet voted on whether to unionize.