The University of Toledo Medical Center could save at least $1 million a year through the layoffs of 50 clinical employees, according to Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UT's provost and executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the medical college.
The last of the notices to those affected personnel, in positions such as registration, housekeeping, and food service, were sent yesterday at the former Medical College of Ohio.
"We did everything we possibly could to protect the direct patient care workforce," Dr. Gold said.
"It should have no impact on our educational programs and it should have no impact on the quality of care."
But Tom Kosek, president of the union representing most of the affected employees, said those who clean rooms and check in patients are part of the care.
"How they see direct patient care and I see direct patient care are different," said Mr. Kosek, president of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 2415. "I see it as someone who can at any given time affect how a patient is received, or while they stay here or when they leave here."The actual number of employees affected will depend on how many can fill other vacant positions or exercise bumping rights in the union contact.
UT administration said the lay-offs are to offset losses from an increasing number of patients who cannot pay for their care.
While patient volume at the hospital grows "at an unprecedented clip," Dr. Gold said a larger number of patients do not have insurance or the ability to pay.
"We have held on as long as we possibly could, but given the unprecedented rates of loss of insurance in the community we can't hold on any longer," Dr. Gold said.
Mr. Kosek said it would be easier for his membership to understand the layoffs if the need were better communicated.
"What we don't understand is the need for the layoffs," he said. "Nobody has said to us we are short this amount of money and this is what we need to make up that loss. Our employees would be more than understanding and willing to do more if there were numbers."
And the union would have been willing to work with hospital leaders to find creative ways to address financial concerns, he said.
Dr. Gold said the hospital is also looking at its supplier and pharmaceutical contracts to find additional places to save.
The university community was buzzing about the layoffs yesterday and renewed attention was being paid to the bonuses paid to its top administrators made public in late August.
UT paid almost $570,000 in administrative bonuses last school year, which was part of $1.5 million in longevity or performance pay to administrators over the last four years.
The AFSCME employees being laid off will get the 14-day notice required by the contract.
Contact Meghan Gilbert-Cunningham
at: mcunningham@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.
Search
advertisement
