Tweet
I had a meeting with our lead physician the other day and she gave me some big news regarding my job. It's well known that COVID has devastated many industries and healthcare is no exception. Hospitals and medical facilities have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of the pandemic.
There have been some changes along the way with our urgent care facilities. Two were closed for several months. Then later, after they had reopened, another one was closed for a while. Per diems were blocked from the schedule so that they could ensure they had enough hours available for the FT and PT staff who are all contracted. Our medical education stipend was cut in half. Stuff like that.
Everyone had hoped that things would be back to something resembling normal by now but it just hasn't happened. Volumes are still way off, meaning income is way off. They hung on as long as they could but they've finally decided they just can't keep operating all 8 locations so they're going to permanently close one site: mine. We'll be there through late May and then that will be it.
Providers will be reassigned to other locations. They aren't sure about staff yet. If they can't accommodate them all within the urgent care system, there are plenty of other opportunities within the larger healthcare system. Hopefully nobody will be forced out but some may choose to seek out work elsewhere.
The other change, which does affect me and a handful of others, is that they are doing away with the weekend shift differential we've been getting. About 2 years ago we changed from having to work every other weekend to every third weekend. I voluntarily kept doing every other because I liked my schedule. I only found out after the fact that they were going to pay me extra for doing that which was a very nice surprise - but now that extra money is going away, $21,600/yr. Fortunately, we live well below our means and can manage just fine with the reduction, but it will cut into our savings rate, not something I was anticipating in the final approach to retirement so that sucks. I can decide to make up some of that by working extra shifts sometimes. I get emails nearly every day from people looking to get a shift covered because something came up and they need to be off on short notice. I've generally ignored those but will probably start doing some of it. Probably not enough to replace the full amount but a chunk of it.
Now I'm just waiting for the details, my new contract, my new schedule and site assignment(s), etc. Just when things were going so well they toss this wrench into the works.
There have been some changes along the way with our urgent care facilities. Two were closed for several months. Then later, after they had reopened, another one was closed for a while. Per diems were blocked from the schedule so that they could ensure they had enough hours available for the FT and PT staff who are all contracted. Our medical education stipend was cut in half. Stuff like that.
Everyone had hoped that things would be back to something resembling normal by now but it just hasn't happened. Volumes are still way off, meaning income is way off. They hung on as long as they could but they've finally decided they just can't keep operating all 8 locations so they're going to permanently close one site: mine. We'll be there through late May and then that will be it.
Providers will be reassigned to other locations. They aren't sure about staff yet. If they can't accommodate them all within the urgent care system, there are plenty of other opportunities within the larger healthcare system. Hopefully nobody will be forced out but some may choose to seek out work elsewhere.
The other change, which does affect me and a handful of others, is that they are doing away with the weekend shift differential we've been getting. About 2 years ago we changed from having to work every other weekend to every third weekend. I voluntarily kept doing every other because I liked my schedule. I only found out after the fact that they were going to pay me extra for doing that which was a very nice surprise - but now that extra money is going away, $21,600/yr. Fortunately, we live well below our means and can manage just fine with the reduction, but it will cut into our savings rate, not something I was anticipating in the final approach to retirement so that sucks. I can decide to make up some of that by working extra shifts sometimes. I get emails nearly every day from people looking to get a shift covered because something came up and they need to be off on short notice. I've generally ignored those but will probably start doing some of it. Probably not enough to replace the full amount but a chunk of it.
Now I'm just waiting for the details, my new contract, my new schedule and site assignment(s), etc. Just when things were going so well they toss this wrench into the works.
Comment