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October 19, 2010 in City
Sacred Heart, Holy Family announce 46 more layoffs
Certified nursing aides were latest affected
Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital announced another 46 layoffs Monday, as the two Providence hospitals continue to adjust budgets to deal with a tough economy, fewer patients and scores of uninsured patients who are unable to pay their bills.
The layoffs affected certified nursing aides. In addition, the hospital reduced the hours of five registered nurses, and accepted the voluntary resignations of two more nurses, who quit rather than accept new work assignments in different units, said Elaine Couture, chief executive of the hospitals.
Together with job cuts announced last month, the two hospitals have laid off 107 employees.
The number is far less than feared. Some estimated that hundreds of the approximately 6,000 people on staff at the hospitals might be handed pink slips.
Couture said the cuts were painful but were needed to help achieve $7 million in savings.
“We’re very hopeful that this is the end of this process,” she said.
On Monday many registered nurses were offered reassignments, different shifts and other changes. It was all part of the RNs’ labor pact that requires seniority-based staffing in case of layoffs.
At one point nurses were lined up in the halls awaiting word on their new job assignments or layoff.
Couture said 46 certified nursing aides were let go; they typically help patients with tasks such as bathing, walking and meals. The hospitals are transitioning to a model of having all such positions and tasks handled by registered nurses, she said.
Couture noted that nine managers had been laid off, along with dietitians, housekeepers, secretaries and other employees throughout the hospitals’ expansive operations.
Sacred Heart remains the largest private employer in Spokane. Holy Family also ranks among the largest. Together the hospitals have a combined budget of $926 million this year.
Sacred Heart already had announced plans to close or consolidate some of its programs, including its outpatient wound care clinic, maternity support services, its day care for sick children of employees, and several outpatient programs.
Couture said registered nurses were laid off from those programs, but most of the cuts made so far haven’t affected hospital patient care.
Parishes giving $1.5 million toward settling sex cases 
misjustice on October 19 at 8:51 a.m.
“…most of the cuts made so far haven’t affected hospital patient care.”
I’d suggest that it is too early to tell what the impact will be on patient care, the cuts just happened. And it’s not just the cuts that impact patient care, the work reassignments do also.
It seems that the nurses are being pushed to do more, for more patients, in the same amount of time; stretching them thin and overworking them will contribute to mistakes and burnout, which will impact patients.
Orange on October 19 at 10:26 a.m.
Agree with misjustice, how do you know nothing will be affected by the changes?
Like in other industries, to deal with the “economy”, we are doing more with less resources. Looks like it’s the medical industry’s turn.
Too bad, medical jobs were looking hopeful for Spokane.
zelda on October 19 at 10:38 a.m.
I first head about this from the TV news websites and the way the union was talking it sounded like Armageddon with 100s and 100s of job losses. Now we learn that it’s 46.
I’m skeptical when I hear about layoffs from union sources — their intent is to agitate and spread alarm. When the facts come out later the cuts are a lot less than feared, making it sound like the union was successful in preventing the End of the World.
I’m not pro-job loss, but making wild exaggerations and predicting mass layoffs make me take an even more jaundiced view of unions. The TV news stations fall for it everytime; glad the S-R is able to find the signal amid the noise.
2203 on October 19 at 12:16 p.m.
I am very disapointed that someone has this view of the union during this ordeal at SHMC. Because it could not be further from the truth. I am not sure what news story they were watching but that was never the information that was told to the nurses involved. We always knew that the reason there was not more positions eliminated was because the management held positions for nurses that they knew were going to be affected. Otherwise there may have been 70 nursing positions eliminated and when you add this to the the other jobs that were lost it is in the 100’s. This is the info that was always told to us. I am thankful that the hospital had the foresight to hold open positons for these displaced nurses.
The unions role in this was to provide support and to make sure hospital followed protocols. I never felt they were spreading alarm or agitating the nurses. I am sorry that you have this view because it is innacurate. I have never been a strong supporter of the union but after this I see that they are there to help us and make sure that the hospital follows the rules
Through this I am closer to my co-workers and appreciate the process that protected our jobs set up by the union.
What I wish is that the hospital would have given the nurses a large room to commune in for the process that was private instead of making us stand in hallways for all to see. That was humiliating. We are people not numbers. That was demoralizing.
509ifyourlucky on October 23 at 12:35 p.m.
The problem is medical costs, which is unregulated. Those who have insurance complain of the deductible and the balance owing after insurance pays the approved payments.
The people who don’t have any medical coverage or who are unable to pay.
Utility Companies don’t give free electric or phone service.
Every industry is looking to cut costs, so what is the first cut (employees) and it hurts.
KD on November 19 at 8:39 p.m.
As someone who use to be employed by Sacred Heart and worked closely with nurses and nurses aids, I can tell you 2 years ago they were already understaffed on aids. Aids are the single most important position at any medical center/hospital. Aids are the ones who respond to call lights, bathroom help, meals, and anything else that patient may desire. If doesn’t involve medication that nurses aid has to take care of it. As of 2 years ago there were usually on 2 aids per unit which breaks down to 15-18 patients per aid, in comparison of 7 patients per nurse. I’m not “dogging” on the nurses, they do a great job. I’m just pointing out that the last people they should lay off are aids. Also, it’s not like they make that much money. They do the most work and are usually the lowest paid. It’s just not fair.