Cash-starved hospitals and doctor groups cut staff amid pandemic
Hospitals across the country have deferred or canceled non-urgent surgeries to free up bed space and equipment for covid-19 patients. But that triage maneuver cut off a main source of income, causing huge losses that have forced some hospitals to let go of health care workers as they struggle to treat infected patients.
Last week, Bon Secours Mercy Health, which runs 51 hospitals in seven states, announced it would furlough 700 workers. On Wednesday, Ballad Health, which operates 21 hospitals across Tennessee and southwest Virginia, delivered the same bad news to 1,300 employees, and said executives would take pay cuts. Nurses at Children’s National Hospital in the District were informed this week that they must take off one week, using either vacation time or, if they have none, unpaid leave.
Hospital executives and analysts emphasize that not all the furloughed or fired workers are directly involved in treating covid-19 patients. Others say the furloughs help reduce the number of people in hospitals, slowing the spread of the virus.
But the absences have put a strain on doctors, nurses and other health care workers treating a surge of patients that has already stretched some health care systems to the breaking point. Remaining front-line workers face longer hours, and some have seen their pay cut and benefits reduced.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/healthcare/cash-starved-hospitals-and-doctor-groups-cut-staff-amid-pandemic/ar-BB12oUuZ?li=BBnb7Kz