Mad River Community Hospital will be furloughing a significant portion of its workforce for the indefinite future as a result of plummeting patient numbers due to canceled nonessential surgeries and appointments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital announced today.
According to a press release, the hospital has seen a 40 to 70-percent decrease in its emergency, medical surgery, imaging and laboratory departments, as well as its outpatient clinics.
“We want the community to know we are not laying off any eplmoyees but instituting a temporary furlough,” said Chief Compliance Officer Pamela Floyd in a press release, which notes the temporary workforce reductions “match current patient volumes.” She goes on to say, “All of our employees are still part of the Mad River Hospital family and we appreciate everybody working together in this time of crisis.”
See the full release from the hospital copied below:
Mad River Community Hospital Adjusting to COVID19 Pandemic
COVID19 Has Patients Rescheduling Care and Staying HomeArcata, CA (April 8, 2020): Across the nation, hospitals are experiencing a loss of everyday patient volume due to cancelled surgeries, cancelled procedures and cancelled clinic visits. Due to the significant patient volume reduction resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mad River Community Hospital (MRCH) is enacting a furlough program throughout the organization to match current patient volumes. This is consistent with the actions of the majority of hospitals throughout the country who are not currently caught in a COVID-19 patient surge scenario.
Since the inception of Humboldt County’s Shelter in Place order, MRCH has experienced between 40%-70% decreases in its emergency department, medical surgical department, imaging, laboratory, outpatient clinics, and administrative support services. Pamela Floyd, Chief Compliance Officer, MRCH says, “We want the community to know we are not laying off any employees but instituting a temporary furlough. All of our employees are still part of the Mad River Hospital family and we appreciate everybody working together in this time of crisis.”
Although the furlough period is indeterminate due to both the unpredictability of the length of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the state mandated stay at home order public’s perception that it may not be safe to use hospital services, our intention is to bring back impacted employees once prior patient volumes resume.
Mad River Community Hospital has a strong reputation of caring for its patients and its employees. Placing our employees on a full or partial furlough is not a decision we take lightly. But under the current conditions, it is an essential move to ensure our doors remain open to our community.
“Before, during and after, we’re still going to care for each other and our community”, said says Doug Shaw, CEO, MRCH.
This article appears in DIY Community Face Mask Template.
