Prisma Health coronavirus furloughs, hour cutbacks affected 3,900 employees
Prisma Health had to furlough or reduce hours for 3,900 members of its 30,000 person workforce in the state as it works through the coronavirus pandemic, system officials said on Thursday.
The figure was confirmed during a phone call with state legislators on Thursday. The furloughed employees are not front line medical workers involved with COVID-19 care.
Also medical employees in some departments and offices who have not been as busy also can be used in departments that have seen or will see an increase in patients. That includes those who work in doctor’s offices being able to help in an ICU, said state Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland, who was on the call.
Rose has had questions about Prisma’s furloughs, which were addressed during the call, the second the hospital has held for legislators.
“It is a lot people and it is unfortunate,” Rose said.
He however said he is confident Prisma has the equipment, bed space and staffing levels it needs to handle the expected peak of cases. As of Thursday, the state has nearly 2,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The Prisma Health system includes three major Midlands hospitals: Prisma Health Richland, Prisma Health Baptist, and Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge. The system also includes several Upstate hospitals including the former Greenville Hospital System.
Gov. Henry McMaster had urged hospitals to hold off on elective procedures to open up bed space to prepare for an expected surge in COVID-19 patients. Prisma Health saw a drop in surgeries and procedures, where it earns the most profit that helps pay for the many other services and care that do not earn enough to cover expenses.
Prisma has seen physician office visits decrease by 40% and net revenue decrease by 25% in March, the hospital system said.
So to save money, Prisma opted to furlough employees.
“We did not furlough team members who were directly involved in caring for our patients today, and we did not furlough those team members who are needed so that we can respond to increased volumes from COVID-19 positive patients,” Prisma spokeswoman Tammie Epps said in a email to The State.
Epps added Prisma would bring back employees as needed and as the coronavirus pandemic passes.
“After the effects of COVID-19 start to decrease, we will start recalling staff needed to serve patients whose medical procedures and surgeries were postponed,” Epps said.
Prisma said of those who saw their work time cut, 63% were furloughed, and 37% had their work schedules reduced.
Epps added furloughed employees can used their paid time off benefits, and are eligible for unemployment benefits.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 6:32 PM.
