Coronavirus: Washington Health System doing voluntary, mandatory layoffs due to decrease in revenue

WASHINGTON, Pa. — As hospitals across the county are preparing for an influx of patients due to the coronavirus, many hospitals are also experiencing a decrease in revenue as elective procedures have now come to a complete stop.

Washington Health System confirmed to Channel 11 that it is doing voluntary and mandatory layoffs.

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WHS administrators said they’ve seen a drastic decrease in patients, including in the emergency department and outpatient services. They’re also preparing for what may be a rapid increase in patients with COVID-10.

These are the changes WHS said will begin March 25:

• Staff in the departments that are closed until April 11 will be offered voluntary and/or mandatory lay-offs. These employees will continue to be covered by all of the WHS provided benefits that they currently have during the period of time that they are off work.
• Direct care providers and support staff in departments that are experiencing a decline in volume are going to be asked to cross-train to other units. This will be done according to skill set and licensure. This is to ensure that sufficient staff is ready and able to care for what may be a sudden increased volume of patients as the virus continues to impact the community.

Administrators said all of the workers who are laid off will continues to receive health benefits and they are hoping to get back to full staffing as soon as possible.

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