MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Medicine system is making temporary changes to keep the business viable during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Talkline president and CEO Dr. Albert Wright says th executive order to eliminate electicve procedures was a good move for flattening the curve, but it has forced them to make staffing changes.
“About a 45-percent drop off in all of our patient volumes, both inpatient and ambulatory,”Wright said,”That’s good for flattening the curve, but it is a challenge from a business standpoint.”
Wright says the workforce is their most important asset, so they want to find ways to keep for a potential surge and the recovery that is expected to follow.
“One of our biggest fixed costs is our salary, wages and benefits, so we’ve been trying to be creative on how we remain ready for the potential surge and the recovery when it comes,”Wright said,”But, also to take care of our workforce.”
When workers cannot be reassigned they will be paid 75 percent of their current hourly rate or current work status. Those employees will also keep their benefits.
“We’re going to take some pay cuts in our senior salaries,”Wright said,”Some of our senior executives, including myself have volunteered to take a ten percent salary cut.”
WVU Medicine has also instituted a hiring freeze and will suspend contributions to 403(b) retirement accounts.
The policy changes will be reassessed in mid-May.
Wright says unlike other hospitals they have been buying and stockpiling personal protective equipment for use during a potential surge or during the recovery.