AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT OHSU

Portland, Oregon-based Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), a public research university and operator of a regional healthcare system, has announced a major cost-cutting initiative.

The cost-cutting effort will impact 500+ employees.

According to OHSU President Danny Jacobs, “Our expenses, including supplies and labor costs, continue to outpace increases in revenue. Despite our efforts to increase our revenue, our financial position requires difficult choices about internal structures, workforce, and programs to ensure that we achieve our state-mandated missions and thrive over the long term.”

"One of the guiding principles of the Strategic Alignment work is a commitment to transparency and providing significant updates as soon as possible. Communications about the plan will include language about the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act."

“Uncertainty and change are difficult. We will continue to proceed with compassion, fully understanding the gravity of these decisions and the personal impact they have."

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. 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?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT TUFTS MEDICINE

Burlington, Massachusetts-based Tufts Medicine, a regionally integrated healthcare system that includes Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Healthcare, an expansive home care network, and a large clinically integrated physician network, has announced a system-wide reduction in force.

The personnel realignment will impact 174 employees over varying effective dates. The decision was driven primarily by high labor and supply chain costs and inadequate reimbursement rates.

According to a spokesperson, "Tufts Medicine employees are talented, dedicated, highly-valued contributors to our mission and values. That's why decisions like this, while sometimes necessary, are extremely difficult. While we continue to make steady progress towards our goal of financial recovery, like many other health systems, we continue to face challenges from persistent capacity issues, high contract labor expenses, and rising supply chain costs.

"As a result, we are taking steps to reduce the size of our workforce, affecting 174 employees, the vast majority in administrative and non-direct patient care roles, to help stabilize our financial health and best position Tufts Medicine to continue providing high-quality care to the patients and communities we proudly serve."

“We cannot and will never rely on cuts alone to fund our mission. Improved access and programmatic growth will be the primary drivers of our future. Additionally, we are working to reduce our reliance on travel staffing, improving patient flow in our inpatient and ambulatory sites, and optimizing other processes to ensure we are capturing revenue and working as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. 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?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN CRISIS PARTNERS

Denver, Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, an independent, non-profit, organization that provides 24/7/365 confidential crisis support through call, text or chat, has announced a reduction in force after the loss of a Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration contract to manage the state's 988 suicide and crisis hotline.

The contract loss will impact 330 employees when the contract ends on June 30, 2024. The new contract was awarded to an out-of-state vendor.

According to Cheri Skelding​​​​, Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners' chief program officer, “I can say that we were extremely heartbroken, shocked, and disappointed in the direction in which crisis services appear to be moving in Colorado. Around 90% of the non-profit's funding comes from the state's contract, meaning the loss of the new contract will lead to the end of the organization's 14-year existence."

The company has filed a formal protest and the final award will be withheld until the protest has been resolved.

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. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. 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?