U.S. hospitals and health systems were forced to make cost reduction a priority this spring to offset decreases in patient volume, a ban on elective procedures and increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While cost reduction strategies differed across organizations, more than 266 hospitals and health systems announced plans to furlough a portion of their staff to help address the financial fallout.
Below are status updates on many of the hospital and health system furloughs announced this spring, such as how many workers have been called back, how many are still on furlough and how many have been let go.
Editor's Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Hospitals are presented in alphabetical order. This article will be updated as more information becomes available or if more health system's respond to Becker's request for an update.
1. Adena Health System (Chillicothe, Ohio)
Since mid-April, the health system has furloughed 579 employees. Adena projected a deficit of more than $50 million through 2020 due to a lack of elective procedures.
As of Aug. 31, all of Adena's furloughed workers have been called back to work, the health system told Becker's Hospital Review.
2. Altru Health System (Grand Forks, N.D.)
The health system reduced the number of staffing hours by 10 percent to 15 percent through furloughs and a system-required absence program during April. An Altru Health System spokesperson provided Becker's the following statement Sept. 2:
"Altru responded to reduced volumes and changing patient and community health needs during the COVID situation by implementing system requested absence time for employees. This is mandatory time off when an employee is removed from the schedule, implemented on a shift-by-shift and at times week-by-week basis, while maintaining their benefits. During COVID when we experienced periods of sustained lower volume, Altru had upwards of 100 employees who consistently were not able to work all of their typically scheduled hours. Approximately 90 percent of these employees have since returned to their full time equivalent. We continue to respond to changing patient needs, placing employees where they are needed throughout the health system."
3. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital (Chicago)
In April, the hospital furloughed about 20 percent of its staff through the end of the month, though staff members still received pay and healthcare benefits. Lurie CFO Ron Blaustein told Becker'sthat as of Aug. 31 the furloughs and pay cuts are over.
"However, we continue to align our resources with the projected lower than expected volumes as a result of the impact of the pandemic and continued masking and social distancing," Mr. Blaustein added.
4. Arnot Health (Elmira, N.Y.)
In April, the health system laid off 400 employees to shore up finances.
As of Aug. 27, about 300 of the 400 employees have returned to work. "Decisions on the balance of the workers who were furloughed are being made based on a careful analysis of patient volume, to ensure our ability to be responsive to the community’s needs while maintaining our financial stability at a time where revenues have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," a spokesperson for the health system told Becker's.
5. Aspirus Health (Wausau, Wis.)
Citing the financial hit from COVID-19, Aspirus Health furloughed a portion of its staff beginning May 1, according to a system press release. The furloughs primarily affected employees who did not work directly in patient care.
"As of the end of August, Aspirus had recalled 214 of our furloughed team members. Our goal is to recall all remaining furloughed employees; fewer than 40 percent have yet to be recalled," Aspirus Health wrote in a Sept. 2 email to Becker's.
6. Ballad Health (Johnson City, Tenn.)
On April 10, citing severe patient volume disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ballad Health furloughed 1,300 team members. The furloughs affected about 10 percent of its workforce.
As of Sept. 8, about 200 team members remain on furlough, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's.
"Those team members are still receiving medical benefits and are being contacted this week to discuss other opportunities within Ballad Health in order to return them to full employment within the organization as soon as possible," the spokesperson said Sept. 8.
The spokesperson added that while the majority of the other 1,300 furloughed members have returned to their roles, some found other positions within Ballad Health or have secured other employment opportunities outside of the health system.
7. Baptist Health (Little Rock, Ark.)
Baptist Health this spring furloughed an unspecified number of employees to remain financially stable amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The health system also reduced benefits, and took additional steps to offset a drop in patient volume and revenue losses.
As of the end of July, Baptist Health brought its workforce back, and it has also restored some of the retirement benefits the health system stopped in April, President and CEO Troy Wells told news website Talk Business & Politics.
8. Bay Area Hospital (Coos Bay, Ore.)
Seventy-one employees from the hospital opted to take voluntary furloughs this spring. All of them have been called back to work, according to a hospital spokesperson.
9. Beaumont Health (Southfield, Mich.)
The health system implemented furloughs in April to offset pandemic-induced losses in revenue. A Beaumont Health spokesperson provided the following statement to Becker's in a Sept. 2 email:
"Throughout this pandemic, Beaumont Health has made the difficult decision to lay off about 2,700 employees. Though approximately 2,000 have been returned to their previous roles or comparable positions, we are actively working with the remaining 550 to match them to available open jobs across the organization."
10. Blount Memorial Hospital (Maryville, Tenn.)
In April, the hospital furloughed 211 employees due to low patient volume amid the pandemic. All but one of them have been brought back, according to a spokesperson for the hospital.
11. Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center furloughed this spring 10 percent of its workforce, or about 750 staff members, due to financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 3 that about 660 furloughed employees have returned to work and about 90 employees are still furloughed. The health system expects the remaining 90 workers to return to work by the end of September.
12. Bronson Healthcare (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Citing the suspension of elective procedures and a 50 percent reduction in revenue, the health system furloughed hundreds of employees in April. Furloughed employees were not paid and could not use paid time off.
"Bronson Healthcare’s 16-week furlough period for several hundred employees ended in August as planned with the exception of those who work in its fitness centers which, by governor’s order, cannot reopen until Sept. 9, 2020," a spokesperson for the health system told Becker's.
13. Campbell County Health (Gillette, Wyo.)
The health system furloughed an undisclosed number of employees in April. All of them have returned to work, according to the hospital's spokesperson.
14. Cape Cod Healthcare (Hyannis, Mass.)
Cape Cod Healthcare furloughed 595 employees in May due to reduced patient volumes and financial losses related to the pandemic.
On Aug. 28, the health system announced that it had recalled 477 of the 595 furloughed workers, and 118 will be laid off.
15. Cape Fear Valley Health(Fayetteville, N.C.)
The health system furloughed 783 employees this spring to help offset financial damage from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of late July, Cape Fear Valley Health had brought back 721 furloughed employees and the remaining 62 employees would not be returning, according to the health system.
16. Carthage (N.Y.) Area Hospital
Citing the financial burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital furloughed 20 percent of its staff April 17. About 83 staff members were affected. Furloughed employees with health insurance could still receive those benefits.
The hospital received its Paycheck Protection Program loan April 20, allowing all furloughed employees to return to work, a spokesperson for the hospital told Becker's.
17. Catholic Health (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The health system furloughed nearly 1,100 employees in April. Most have returned to work, but "about 50 associates in support roles" remain on furlough, a Catholic Health spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2.
18. Catholic Medical Center (Manchester, N.H.)
In April, the hospital furloughed 423 employees after canceling elective procedures to save staff and supplies for COVID-19 patients. It also reduced hours for 914 other employees.
In late July, the hospital permanently laid off 50 furloughed employees as well as another 21 employees who weren't on furlough.
As of Aug. 26, all furloughed workers not affected by the layoffs had been brought back, the hospital told Becker's.
19. Central Maine Healthcare (Lewiston)
The health system furloughed about 330 employees to help offset the revenue loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in April. The furloughs affected about 10 percent of its workforce.
A Central Maine Healthcare spokesperson in June said about three-quarters of its 300 employees furloughed in April were recalled.
As of Aug. 31, the remaining employees on furlough had been called back, a spokesperson told Becker's.
20. Children's Mercy (Kansas City, Mo.)
The hospital furloughed 575 employeest on April 26. Hospital officials said the furloughs were imposed to help offset fiscal losses attributed to the pandemic.
"As we have started ramping back up, all but 60 of the furloughed employees have been called back. For those eligible, severance packages will be made available. We are deeply grateful for their contributions to Children’s Mercy and the patients and families they have served," a June 22 letter to employees read.
21. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (Ogdensburg, N.Y.)
In April, about 175 of the medical center's 850 employees were affected by salary reductions, reduced hours or unpaid leave. A spokesperson for the medical center provided Becker's with the following statement Sept. 3:
"We have been able to return all but 4 percent of our workforce to employment and restore salaries to pre-COVID levels. Nearly half of the layoffs are employees on unpaid leave. Other positions that have remained open or unfilled at this time have also been eliminated, but have not affected current employees. These changes came into effect around July 31, 2020."
22. Columbia Memorial Hospital (Astoria, Ore.)
The hospital furloughed 90 of its 740 employees in late March after the facility scaled back nonemergent procedures to concentrate on the coronavirus.
As of July 28, the facility reinstated 34 of the 90 furloughed employees.
23. Connecticut Children's Medical Center (Hartford)
The children's hospital furloughed 400 employees across its system in April. The system said its patient volume has been cut in half due to halting elective procedures. Furloughed employees were mainly nonclinical workers.
As of Aug. 10, most are back at work, CEO James Shmerling told the Hartford Business Journal.
24. Cookeville (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center
Citing a decrease in patient volume and revenue due to the pandemic, Cookeville Regional Medical Center furloughed about 400 employees of its 2,300-person workforce.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 3 that staff members were brought back to the medical center in phases over several weeks. The health system has now called back all of its employees.
"We are happy to report that all our employees have been called back to return to work with full schedules, and almost all services are reopened with processes in place to protect our patients and staff from the spread of COVID-19," a hospital spokesperson toldBecker's Hospital Review.
25. Edward-Elmhurst (Ill.) Health
The health system furloughed a portion of its 8,000-person workforce due to the pandemic. The furloughs took place across departments over June, July and August.
The health system told Becker's Aug. 21 it is unclear how many employees were still on furlough.
26. Elizabethtown (N.Y.) Community Hospital
The hospital furloughed 25 staff members in April after experiencing a revenue cut of 50 percent due to the suspension of elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. All but one of the affected employees have returned to work, a hospital representative told Becker's in a Sept. 2 email.
27. Emory Healthcare (Atlanta)
Emory Healthcare cut hours or furloughed 1,500 workers to help offset a revenue shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health system told Becker's Aug. 25 that it continues its clinical and financial recovery program after experiencing its second peak of COVID-19. "It would be premature to comment further at this time," a spokesperson said.
28. Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Erlanger Health System said in March it was implementing a cost-reduction plan that included furloughs and pay reductions for leadership. The moves were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health system ended its furloughs June 22, but had to lay off 93 workers who were previously furloughed across the health system, a spokesperson confirmed to Becker's Sept. 2.
29. Essentia Health (Duluth, Minn.)
Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, Essentia Health in March placed about 500 nonclinical staff on a special administrative leave.
Of those 500 employees, all but 65 of have been brought back to work, a spokesperson for Essentia Health told Becker's Sept. 2.
30. Evangelical Community Hospital (Lewisburg, Pa.)
This spring, as the pandemic was declared and certain services slowed, Evangelical Community Hospital furloughed a portion of its staff. In March, 250 employees were furloughed, including 173 full or part-time employees and 77 per diem employees.
As of Sept. 8, 155 full and part time employees have been recalled and the per diem employees are used as needed, a hospital spokesperson said. Additionally, nine full and part-time employees were laid off, seven full and part-time employees retired and two full and part time employees remain on furlough, the spokesperson said.
31. Faith Community Health System (Jacksboro, Texas)
In April, the health system furloughed, cut hours or reassigned about 75 percent of its staff due to the suspension of elective procedures.
CEO Frank Beaman told Becker's Aug. 31 that all furloughed staff have been brought back to work. He added that none of the staff affected by the furloughs or who had their hours cut lost any income, as they were able to use vacation time to supplement their income.
32. Fayette County Memorial Hospital (Washington Court House, Ohio)
Citing a revenue and patient volume drop from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio hospital furloughed 71 of its 352 employees this spring.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's that everybody was brought back mid-May. Since workers were brought back, one employee has been laid off, the spokesperson said.
33. Fenway Health (Boston)
In March and April, Fenway Health furloughed 143 employees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Sept. 1, 52 of those employees have been brought back to work, Fenway told Becker's. Of the 83 still on furlough, about 65 of them work in Fenway's retail, dental and acupuncture operations.
Fenway has not laid off any of the furloughed staff and they have all received full health insurance coverage during their furloughs. Eight of the furloughed employees have left Fenway, a spokesperson told Becker's.
"We ultimately expect to bring everyone back as our patient care volume continues to return to pre-pandemic levels," the spokesperson added.
34. Freeman Health System (Joplin, Mo.)
Freeman Health System implemented a voluntary furlough program for its staff members this spring after suspending elective procedures.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2 that all of the employees who volunteered to take furloughs have returned to work. The furloughs lasted about one month and had no impact on benefits. Freeman Health System was also able to implement staff raises during this time, according to the hospital spokesperson.
35. Froedtert Health (Wauwatosa, Wis.)
Froedtert Health furloughed and cut the hours of some workers in April, according to furloughed nurses from the system.
"Like all healthcare organizations, we continue to evaluate the daily operational and staffing needs for our organization. Since March, staff members continued to remain active Froedtert Health employees during low-census and furlough status. At this time, approximately 1 percent of our staff are impacted by reduced hours," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2.
36. Halifax Health (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
In April, the health system furloughed nearly 400 of its staff members and required all nonclinical staff take one day off per week.
In July, Halifax laid off 95 of the furloughed workers. Employees no longer had to take one day of paid time off each week as of July 1 and employees who took a pay cut instead of paid days off had their salaries restored.
All furloughed workers unaffected by the layoffs returned to work Aug. 3, Halifax told Becker's.
37. Henry Ford Health System (Detroit)
In April, the health system furloughed 2,800 staffers not directly involved in patient care due to financial damage from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety-two percent of furloughed staff have returned to work, a Henry Ford representative told Becker's in an Aug. 31 email.
38. Hillcrest HealthCare System (Tulsa, Okla.)
Hillcrest HealthCare System said in April it would furlough 600 employees for up to 90 days. The furloughs affected about 9 percent of staff and were a result of a decline in routine and elective procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 1: "We made the difficult decision to reduce staffing in some areas across our system as part of a strategic restructuring due to the devastating impact from COVID-19. While the reduction represents less than 1 percent of our workforce, it does not make the decision any less difficult or impactful to those team members affected."
39. Hospital Sisters Health System (Springfield, Ill.)
Hospital Sisters Health System furloughed a portion of its staff in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August, the health system announced plans to reduce its workforce by 10 percent. The reductions include some of those who were furloughed.
40. Infirmary Health (Mobile, Ala.)
Citing a decrease in patient volume and revenue, the health system furloughed a portion of its staff in April. All affected employees have returned to work, according to an Infirmary Health spokesperson.
41. Kaleida Health (Buffalo, N.Y.)
The health system offered a temporary, voluntary furlough program for its staff in April. The furlough program is a joint agreement with two unions that represent 8,000 Kaleida Health employees. All of the health system's furloughed employees have since returned, according to Michael Hughes, its senior vice president and chief of staff.
42. Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital (Somerset, Ky.)
In April, the hospital placed 17 percent of its workforce on temporary leave. Those workers continued to receive health insurance and 25 percent of their wages.
As of Sept. 2, all of those employees have returned to work, according to CEO Robert Parker.
"We are extremely grateful to our many dedicated team members, across all of our departments, who have worked tirelessly to keep one another and our patients safe as we continue the fight against COVID-19," Mr. Parker said.
43. Lawrence (La.) General Hospital
In early April, Lawrence General placed 8 percent of its staff, or 160 employees, on a four-week furlough. Most of the furloughs affected nonclinical workers.
The hospital told Becker's Sept. 2 that the safety-net facility had to extend the initial time frame of the four-week furlough four more weeks to address the volume dip and subsequent revenue loss attributed to the pandemic.
Although most of the furloughed workers returned to work June 15, 10 furloughed positions were eliminated, and a few employees remained on furlough until July 15. Now, those workers are back.
"Within weeks, canceling all elective volume and ramping up staff, supplies and equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 40 percent decline in patient volume and income and an increase in costs. The response required by Lawrence General Hospital to fight the pandemic, combined with an already challenging financial outlook for safety-net hospitals," a Lawrence General hospital spokesperson said.
44. Lee Health (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Lee Health offered voluntary buyouts and voluntary summer leave program to help offset losses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 600 employees took voluntary buyouts, and a lot of workers took summer sabbaticals, but no one is keeping track of the exact number, a spokesperson for the health system told Becker's Aug. 24. The spokesperson said about 150 people took leaves of absence. Lee Health is trying to get all of these workers back as patient volume returns to normal.
45. Lewis County Health System (Lowville, N.Y)
The health system placed 14 percent of its workforce on unpaid leave in April due to the pandemic. They have all returned to work, according to a spokesperson from the health system.
46. Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic
Marshfield Clinic in April said it would furlough employees who are not involved in preparing for the anticipated surge in COVID-19 patients.
As of Sept. 1, the system had recalled 96 percent of the employees who were on furlough, a Marshfield Clinic spokesperson confirmed to Becker's. Some of the employees who did not return retired or ended employment with the health system, the spokesperson said.
47. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
The hospital furloughed 32 percent of its staff members in April, affecting 603 employees. As of Aug. 31, 512 employees had returned, 34 remain furloughed and 57 were terminated, a hospital representative told Becker'sSept. 1.
The spokesperson also said that Mary Free Bed augmented unemployment benefits when it issued the furloughs so employees would receive about 75 percent of their regular wages. Affected employees also received dental, vision and life insurance, as well as 100 percent coverage for behavioral health telehealth visits and COVID-19 treatment.
48. Maury Regional Health(Columbia, Tenn.)
Maury Regional Health implemented two rounds of furloughs this spring that affected 414 employees; the first round affected 340 employees.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2 that of the 414 employees affected, 287 staff members were called back to work, and 127 employees were laid off.
49. McDonough District Hospital (Macomb, Ill.)
The hospital furloughed 60 workers in April amid declining revenue from the pandemic. It has brought back 14 of those employees, a hospital representative told Becker's in a Sept. 2 email.
50. Mid-Columbia Medical Center (Dalles, Ore.)
The medical center began furloughing employees May 3 in an effort to help offset losses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The furloughs primarily affected departments that were not seeing a lot of patients.
A Mid-Columbia Medical Center spokesperson told Becker's the medical center has brought back all of its furloughed staff members, except for those who worked within its spa services, which have been closed due to financial instability.
51. Melissa Memorial Hospital (Holyoke, Colo.)
Melissa Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital with about 100 employees, placed 19 employees on furlough this spring due to a reduction in volume amid the coronavirus pandemic. The hospital had a layered approach to cost reduction, as some employees were on reduced hours, some on furlough, and managers volunteered to take pay cuts.
Cathy Harshbarger, BSN, RN, and the hospital's CEO, confirmed with Becker's that due to restructuring to respond to the pandemic, eight employees were laid off, and the remaining employees were brought back to work. Terminated employees were offered a severance package.
Six of the eight terminated employees were part of the hospital's dental and optical departments, which were struggling with volume before the pandemic. The hospital looked at operations and reworked many of the departments to gain efficiencies. Due to this restructuring, the other two employees were laid off.
All employees who took pay cuts have had their regular salaries restored, Ms. Harshbarger said.
"It's scary for a rural hospital. Our little hospital was dealing with trying to build cash again after a loss in volume. At the beginning, we were worried because we had just 32 days of cash on hand. We had to act very quickly and tighten things down," Ms. Harshbarger said. "Through teamwork, we developed and found efficiencies we really needed."
52. Mercy Medical Center (Canton, Ohio.)
Mercy Medical Center began implementing furloughs in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The system placed 349 employees on full furlough and 376 employees on partial furlough.
As of Sept. 3, 15 employees remain on full furlough, two remain on partial furlough, and 19 employee positions were eliminated, according to a hospital spokesperson.
53. Mohawk Valley Health System (Utica, N.Y.)
The health system furloughed about 20 percent of its workforce of 4,000 in April as part of a cost-cutting plan to recover from lost revenue caused by the pandemic. A spokesperson for the health system told Becker's that about "300 employees have been brought back so far" in a Sept. 2 email.
54. Monument Health (Rapid City, S.D.)
In April, Monument Health placed 200 employees on furlough to help preserve protective gear and save costs after suspending elective surgeries. The furloughs affected 4 percent of its workforce. The health system "brought its furloughed caregivers back as needed through Aug. 17, when the furlough officially ended," a Monument representative told Becker's.
55. Munson Healthcare (Traverse City)
Citing a financial hit from the suspension of elective procedures, the health system furloughed a portion of its staff in April.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Munson Healthcare in significant ways, we can report that 90 percent of the individuals who were placed in furlough status are no longer on furlough," a Munson Healthcare spokesperson told Becker's in a Sept. 2 email.
56. MUSC Health (Charleston, S.C.)
The eight-hospital system said it would temporarily lay off 900 employees, or 5 percent of its workforce, to offset the financial hit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary layoffs, which do not affect nonclinical workers, were effective April 7.
MUSC Health said in late June it has called back nearly half of the employees who had been furloughed.
57. Myrtue Medical Center (Harlan, Iowa)
The medical center furloughed a portion of its 422 employees in April due to a revenue drop from the pandemic. All of the furloughed employees have returned to work, according to a hospital spokesperson.
58. Niagara Falls (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital
The hospital furloughed 52 employees in April to offset a revenue loss due to the pandemic. It received federal Paycheck Protection Program funding and was able to bring back all of its furloughed staff, a spokesperson for the hospital told Becker's.
59. North Bend Medical Center (Coos Bay, Ore.)
North Bend Medical Center this spring furloughed 130 employees to prepare for the novel coronavirus pandemic.
According to John Burles, North Bend Medical Center CEO, most of the furloughed workers have been called back to work, but about 30 did not return, many of whom were offered their positions back. The hospital has been able to hire new people to fill some of those positions.
60. Northern Light Health (Brewer, Maine)
The health system asked staff to volunteer for furloughs in early April.
A spokesperson for Northern Light Health told Becker's Aug. 31 that 187 employees were granted a voluntary furlough, the average length of which was 36 days. The last furloughed employee was slated to return Sept. 6.
61. Noyes Health (Dansville, N.Y.)
In April, Noyes Health furloughed some of its staff for one to two weeks on a rolling basis, citing a revenue decline of 50 percent due to the pandemic. All affected employees returned from furlough by June, and the health system's budgeted revenue has bounced back into the upper 90 percent range for June and July, according to a spokesperson for the health system.
62. Olmsted Medical Center (Rochester, Minn.)
The medical center furloughed 200 people in April to offset the financial hit caused by the pandemic. All affected employees have returned to work, according to a spokesperson.
63. Pikeville (Ky.) Medical Center
The medical center furloughed more than 200 employees April 26 amid mounting financial pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most employees have returned to their positions, and the medical center is bringing back the fewer than three dozen remaining employees, according to a medical center spokesperson.
64. Premier Health (Dayton, Ohio)
The Dayton-based health system said this spring it would furlough an undisclosed number of employees due to an anticipated financial hit from Ohio's interim ban on nonessential surgeries.
In response to Becker's request for an update on furloughs, the organization provided a statement from the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, which includes Premier Health, but is not specific to Premier Health.
"The Dayton region's hospitals employ more than 34,000 individuals across our 11-county region. During COVID-19, 5,648 healthcare workers and hospital employees were temporarily furloughed due to Ohio’s executive order that suspended elective and nonessential surgeries. At this time, most furloughed employees have returned to work," the hospital association stated.
65. Prisma Health (Greenville, S.C.)
Citing the financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prisma Health said it furloughed about 3,900 of its 30,000-person workforce this spring.
"We are on the front end of a long-term recovery effort, as is the entire U.S. economy. As we need staffing for patient care, we have continuously been recalling furloughed clinical staff or increasing hours for those team members whose hours were previously reduced. We do not have an update on the number of earlier announced furloughs or reduced hours because staffing is constantly shifting to accommodate the impact of COVID-19 as it ebbs and flows in our communities," Prima Health told Becker's Sept. 3.
66. Providence Oregon (Portland)
Providence Oregon implemented staff furloughs and leadership pay cuts to help offset financial losses attributed to the pandemic. At the time, the health system said its core leaders would take a one-week unpaid furlough between May 17 and July 31. In addition, the health system said caregivers would flex their hours during the same time period.
Providence Oregon has since seen its patient volumes recover to near-expected levels, with 95 percent of budgeted volume in June, the health system told Becker's Sept. 3. Therefore, the health system has ended most patient-facing caregiver furloughs. "We continue to manage our operations during the pandemic based on the new economic realities," Providence Oregon said.
67. Samaritan Medical Center ( Watertown, N.Y.)
In April, the hospital furloughed 10 percent of its 2,400 employee workforce due to a revenue loss stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital said it expected the furloughs to last about three months.
As of Sept. 15, the hospital has brought back 170 furloughed employees and 20 employees remain on extended furlough. The hospital had to permanently lay off 27 employees, and 13 employees that were furloughed found other employment, the hospital told Becker's.
68. St. Agnes Medical Center (Fresno, Calif.)
The medical center furloughed 161 employees in April to better align its resources with the pandemic-induced reduction in services. As its volume has been slowly ramping up, it has brought back 94 of those employees.
"We're hopeful this trend will continue so we can soon return even more," a spokesperson for the medical center told Becker's Aug 27.
69. St. Claire HealthCare (Morehead, Ky.)
St. Claire HealthCare announced in late March it would furlough 300 employees who are not involved in direct patient care to ensure it can sustain clinical operations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2: "We are very fortunate we have been able to return the vast majority of our furloughed staff to work."
70. St. Joseph Health (Syracuse, N.Y.)
The hospital system furloughed about 500 workers to deal with an "unprecedented fiscal fallout" from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Syracuse.com.
St. Joseph's Health brought back 135 workers as of June 1, according to Syracuse.com.
Most of the remaining furloughed employees have since been recalled back into employment, according to an Aug. 31 press release emailed to Becker's.
71. St. Lawrence Health System (Potsdam, N.Y)
The three-hospital system temporarily furloughed 427 workers in April to help offset the revenue loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of June, 25 of those positions were permanently eliminated, all of which were full time and primarily at the management level.
72. St. Luke's Hospital (Chesterfield, Mo.)
St. Luke's offered a voluntary furlough program to employees in May. A spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 8 that about 300 employees accepted the offer and received paid benefits while they received unemployment insurance and the additional benefits provided by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
The furlough program ended at the end of July, the hospital said, and most furloughed employees are back in their normal positions.
"For those whose normal positions were and are still impacted by the pandemic, they have the opportunity to be part of a COVID-19 screening pool to cover essential needs and to minimize reductions in their work schedules whenever possible," the spokesperson said.
73. Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Hospital
Sarasota Memorial Hospital furloughed 640 staff members in March and April as patient volumes dropped amid a statewide elective procedure ban.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 3 that staff were brought back in phases as the ban was lifted and volume returned. Specifically, most employees were brought back in May and the rest returned by the end of June.
74. Scotland Health Care System (Laurinburg, N.C.)
The health system furloughed nearly 70 employees through June 30 due to a pandemic-induced drop in patient volume and revenue, according to The Laurinburg Exchange. Most affected employees work in nonclinical roles, though some front-line staff were furloughed. All furloughed employees have since returned to work, a human resources representative told Becker's.
75. Sinai Health System (Chicago)
Crain's Chicago Business reported the health system would lay off 24 nonclinical employees, furlough about 150 caregivers and cut hours for another 200 employees during April, citing a loss of $10 million per month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All but 13 of Sinai's furloughed employees have been brought back, according to the hospital's spokesperson.
76. Stamford (Conn.) Health
Stamford Health furloughed 375 employees to help offset a revenue loss from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Aug. 31, five full-time employees are still on furlough, and the health system plans to bring those employees back, a spokesperson told Becker's.
77. Stanford (Calif.) Health Care
Stanford Health Care's Temporary Workforce Adjustment program, which began on April 27, required all exempt, non-represented employees, including executive leadership, to take 12 days off in a 10-week period or a pay reduction of 20 percent for the 10 weeks. More than 99 percent of its workforce chose to use paid time off. The program allowed all staff who did not have enough PTO hours to use hours they had not yet earned to maintain their pay level. Those who needed to were allowed to go into a negative PTO balance and earn the hours back.
The program ended for Service Employees International Union employees June 20 and ended for all other employees July 4. All furloughed employees have returned to their regularly scheduled hours, a spokesperson told Becker's.
78. Stephens Memorial Hospital (Breckenridge, Texas)
Stephens Memorial Hospital furloughed a portion of its staff in April due to the pandemic.
The hospital was able to bring back all furloughed employees after a few weeks, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's Aug. 31. "We have been fortunate to benefit from the programs that have been offered to help rural hospitals stay open during this time," the spokesperson added. "Our volumes have consistently increased back up to or near pre-pandemic levels with the exception of our emergency department. They are still seeing about 60 percent of average based on historical data."
79. Summa Health (Akron, Ohio)
Throughout the spring, Summa Health furloughed 728 of its 7,200 employees in an effort to cut costs.
In August, the health system brought back the majority of the furloughed employees. As of Aug. 25, 12 employees remained on furlough, the health system told Becker's.
80. Thomas Health (South Charleston, W.Va.)
Thomas Health, which had 1,663 employees at the start of the pandemic, furloughed 584 of those staff members.
Due to attrition and reorganization, the health system brought back all but 80 employees, a health system spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 2."Since then, we have already hired 50 new full-time employees," the spokesperson added.
81. Tower Health (Philadelphia)
In April, the seven-hospital system furloughed at least 1,000 employees due to the financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting roughly 7 percent of the system's 14,000-person workforce. In a Sept. 2 email, a Tower Health spokesperson told Becker's "almost all staff furloughed in April have been recalled."
82. Trinity Health (Livonia, Mich.), which includes Trinity Health of New England (Hartford, Conn.)
Trinity Health, a 92-hospital system, implemented furloughs across its network. At its Michigan hospitals, 2,500 employees were furloughed this spring, while an undisclosed number of employees were furloughed at Trinity Health of New England.
In July, the health system said it would lay off and reduce work schedules of 1,000 employees.
A Trinity Health spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 3: "Our staffing reductions were less than 3 percent of our workforce nationally, which is much lower than we originally anticipated would be required due to stronger-than-expected resurgence of patient volume. Many furloughed colleagues have either returned to work or are anticipated to return to work as patient volumes grow."
83. UK Healthcare (Lexington, Ky.)
The health system furloughed 1,500 employees to help offset a COVID-19-related revenue loss in April. Only two of the affected employees remain on a partial furlough, which is one day per week, a UK Healthcare spokesperson told Becker's in a Sept. 2 email.
84. UnityPoint Health (West Des Moines, Iowa)
The health system began implementing furloughs April 26, which affected employees in areas of the system that were operating at capacity or experiencing closures. Most of them have been brought back.
"UnityPoint Health has returned more than 95 percent of our team members from furlough and has reinstated our standard pay practices," a spokesperson said in a Sept. 1 email. "We continue to evaluate opportunities to respond to the rapidly evolving dynamics of the pandemic including executive benefit offerings and other options. Our top priority remains the health and safety of our team members, patients and communities."
85. University Hospitals (Cleveland)
The health system cut the hours and pay of 4,100 employees not involved in patient care in April, all of whom have since returned to work.
"Furloughs for nonclinical caregivers were temporary and involved 20 percent reduction in hours over a 10-week period," a system representative told Becker's. "Our caregivers continued to receive benefits and were eligible to continue pay by using earned or borrowed paid time off. UH leaders in clinical and nonclinical positions continued to work through the 10-week period at reduced levels of pay. The temporary furloughs have ended, and all of our caregivers are focused on restoring care for our patients that may have been delayed because of the pandemic."
86. University of Chicago Medical Center
University of Chicago Medical Center furloughed more than 800 employees in May.
A hospital spokesperson told Becker's Aug. 26 the furloughs have ended, and no other layoffs or further furloughs have been announced.
87. University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus (Topeka)
The University of Kansas Health System in April laid off 29 employees and furloughed 235 to help offset the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In mid-June, the health system restructured and consolidated some services and laid off 33 employees to manage the effect of COVID-19. The 33 affected employees represent about 2.3 percent of the hospital's workforce, and most had already been put on furlough.
Becker's reached out to the University of Kansas Health System to provide an update on whether the remaining furloughed employees have been brought back.
88. University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington)
University of Vermont Medical Center furloughed hundreds of employees this year. More than 660 employees were affected by furlough at some point, with numbers fluctuating throughout the spring and summer as some redeployed into new positions, such as screening employees and patients for COVID-19 symptoms at hospital entrances, or assisting colleagues with proper PPE usage, a spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 8.
The medical center has recalled more than 400 employees to their normal roles amid the resumption of nonurgent and routine procedures. The spokesperson said nearly all affected employees will be back in their normal roles by the end of September.
89. UW Medicine (Seattle)
UW Medicine announced furloughs of approximately 1,500 professional and non-union staff members in May. It also announced furloughs of approximately 4,000 union employees in May and layoffs of 100 staff members in July due to financial challenges from the pandemic.
The health system told Becker's Aug. 26 that 260 staff furloughs were canceled, either due to increased patient volumes or a need for staff coverage.
90. Vidant Health (Greenville, N.C.)
To address the financial hit and patient volume dip caused by the pandemic, the health system furloughed 212 of its employees. A Vidant Health spokesperson told Becker's in a Sept. 2 email that 207 of them had returned to work.
91. Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle)
Virginia Mason Medical Center furloughed an undisclosed number of employees this spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the affected employees were in nonclinical roles.
A Virginia Mason spokesperson said the hospital system has resumed services in compliance with Washington state's guidelines, and some furloughed workers have returned to work.
"While some team members who were temporarily furloughed during the peak of the pandemic have returned to work, I am unable to provide specific figures or percentages," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's Sept. 3.
92. Washington Regional Medical Center (Fayetteville, Ark.)
In April, the hospital furloughed 305 full-time employees to help offset revenue losses tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of those employees, 288 had been brought back by late July and the remaining workers returned to work by Aug. 2.
Natalie Hardin, director of marketing and public relations at the hospital, told Becker'sthat a small number of the furloughed workers resigned or found other jobs. No employees remain on furlough as of Aug. 25.
"This does not mean that Washington Regional's pandemic related revenue troubles are over — far from it. The pandemic presents an unpredictable challenge that we recognize will remain with us for some time to come. As a result, we will continue to focus on our financial and clinical operations to ensure that our health system is on a sound footing now and into the future," CEO Larry Shackelford said in a statement.
93. West Tennessee Healthcare (Jackson)
West Tennessee Healthcare furloughed 1,100 individuals of its 7,000-person workforce. The health system said it lost $18 million in March due to the statewide ban on elective procedures that went into effect March 23.
"We have three employees who still aren't working their normal hours, but the other employees who were furloughed are working," a spokesperson wrote in a Sept. 1 email to Becker's.
Several hospitals and health systems did not respond in time for publication. Three healthcare organizations, including Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, Ill.; MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill.; and Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore., declined to comment for this article.