West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health said staffing changes the health system is making at Pottstown (Pa.) Hospital and Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia will affect 60 jobs.
Earlier this month, Tower Health confirmed it is eliminating jobs at both hospitals. But additional details have since emerged about the move and affected positions.
Spokesperson Richard Wells told Becker's Hospital Review Chestnut Hill and Pottstown hospitals are making changes in their respective nursing units, such as changing the unit clerk position to a new unit support coordinator position. The hospitals will also eliminate any patient sitter and patient greeter roles.
"These changes will improve care delivery and coordination on nursing units and create a consistent model for care across the Tower Health hospitals," said Mr. Wells. "This change also supports the recent installation of the Epic electronic health record across Tower Health."
He said changes will affect 23 unit clerks, five patient greeters and five patient sitters at Chestnut Hill Hospital, who are represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania. The changes will also affect 22 unionized unit secretaries and 10 nonunion patient sitters at Pottstown Hospital. There are no patient greeters at the Pottstown facility.
Chestnut Hill Hospital is opening 18 new unit support coordinator positions, while Pottstown Hospital is creating 11 unit support coordinator positions and 13 patient care assistant positions, based on nursing staff feedback, Mr. Wells said.
He said Tower Health will attempt to place employees affected by the staffing changes in the new positions, "based on their interest and qualifications, or to identify other positions in their current hospitals or in Tower Health." He also added that some affected employees have already accepted new unit support coordinator positions. Tower Health will give severance to workers who don't get a new position within the system, and any worker who accepts a new unit support coordinator position will receive the same or increased pay.