LAYOFFS: NO LOVE AT PRISMA HEALTH (07/16/23)

JULY 16, 2023 — 689 JANITORIAL WORKERS TO BE LAID OFF OR TRANSITIONED TO NEW COMPANY

Prisma Health has announced the layoff of 689 environmental services (janitorial) employees as it contracts with Wayne, Pennsylvania-based Compass One Healthcare, to provide cleaning services. Employees will be offered an opportunity to re-apply and transition to the new company.

FEBRUARY 5, 2020 — Original blog

Columbia, South Carolina-based Prisma Health, the largest not-for-profit health organization in South Carolina, has announced a major restructuring and reduction in force. The change will impact 327 employees, not including another 200 positions which have been consolidated or will remain unfilled. Prisma will also close the company’s 15-bed Subacute Unit at Greenville Memorial Hospital and the Children’s Residential Program in Greenville, South Carolina. The decision is an economic one driven by the all-to-common “lower reimbursements and increasing numbers of patients who are underinsured or uninsured.”

A company spokesperson noted that “As part of this ongoing work, we have identified a number of additional expense-reduction strategies, many of which impact our workforce. These are difficult decisions, but we need to make them now so we can provide the quality care our patients deserve in a financially sustainable manner.” The company has also laid of some executive management positions and is looking for cost savings in purchasing and technology.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

LAYOFFS: NO LOVE AT HEALTHPARTNERS

Bloomington, Minnesota-based HealthPartners, an integrated, nonprofit insurance and health care provider, has announced that the company is planning to close its retail pharmacies in 2020. The impact is projected to affect at least 300 jobs, 100 of which are professional pharmacists. According to a company spokesperson, “Consumer preferences and pharmacy economics have changed, however, to favor large-scale organizations able to support extended hours, drive-through pickup, and other conveniences we’re not able to offer. Like others preceding us in our market, we’ve made the difficult decision to exit our retail pharmacy operation. Specialty, infusion and hospital pharmacies, as well as health plan pharmacy management and medication therapy management services will remain operational.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

LAYOFFS: NO LOVE AT BJC HEALTHCARE

St. Louis, Missouri-based BJC HealthCare, a non-profit health care company that operates two nationally recognized academic hospitals, has announced that they will continue restructuring their IT operations which will impact 200 employees.

More of the company’s IT operations involving service desk, desktop support and mobile devices; server, storage, database and data center management; and network and telecommunications services, and other IT support functions are being outsourced to third-party contractor Pune, India-based Tech Mahindra as of December 6th, 2019 According to a company spokesperson, "We believe this structure will further strengthen and stabilize our technology infrastructure and position us to meet the expectations of our customers for a health care experience that is seamlessly supported by an exceptionally reliable and responsive IT platform. We recognize that any action that results in job impact has significant consequences for team members and their families. We appreciate and value their contributions to BJC and have been committed to supporting them throughout this transition."

In July, 2018 113 IT jobs, 68 employees and 45 contractors. were eliminated after the organization switched to EPIC, a new IT platform that supports both inpatient and outpatient services. At that time a BJC spokesperson noted, “Reprioritizing the work towards improved system stability, strengthening of information protection, and disciplined execution requires changes in the IT staffing structure."

The layoffs follow a trend where healthcare organizations outsource operational functions to concentrate on their core competencies of delivering health care.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?