Sutter Health

[Jon Manis]

I can confirm that this week we announced that contract staff would begin to roll off of our IS projects and we would be reviewing staffing through May due to the economic downturn and the delay in what was to be our second acute care EHR implementation later this year. We have just completed a successful implementation at our first hospital Mills-Peninsula and remain committed to completing our standard, system-wide EHR initiative, with Epic as our valued partner. Unfortunately, as I’ve posted on HISTalk before, the current financial environment precludes us from completing our acute care EHR implementations as quickly as planned. And, since we’re doing everything possible to minimize the impact on employees, I cannot yet provide our team with specifics about what the delays associated with our acute care installations will mean to our staffing structure. The Sutter Health IS staff knows I value open communication and transparency. I will continue to speak openly and honestly with my staff regarding the staffing review and will be pleased to provide additional information as it becomes available.

[nealpatterson]

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the end of last month, I shared with you my belief that our values - honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, teamwork, affordability – would anchor us through the tough times around and ahead of us. I also committed to sharing with you as complete a picture as possible regarding what the economic downturn and changes in our electronic health record (EHR) initiative would mean to the Sutter Health Information Services (IS) staffing structure.

First, let me say, again, how tough it remains to talk with you now about Sutter Health IS staffing changes on the heels of a tremendously successful go-live at Mills-Peninsula Health Services. I personally have witnessed and have heard from across Sutter Health and from our external partners about what an amazing team we have created – and most notably a fully integrated team that got past the “us vs. them” mindset and became a true “we.” For this achievement of truly living our value of teamwork, I salute you. You, whether Sutter Health IS employees or contract staff, pressed on despite the unknowns and possible changes. None of us could have known a significant economic downturn would coincide with our first hospital go-live. It did and we must adapt and continue to move forward.

Second, only parts of the full picture I want to give you exist today. However, I do not want to delay sharing recent decisions that have been made as a result of the declining economy and changes in our acute care EHR roll out. The following information relates to our Mather-based IS staff:

We will reduce our requirement for contract staffing with the majority of contract resources transitioning off of IS projects beginning in May or as early as practicable

All open staff positions have been closed and the hiring freeze that applies to all of Sutter Health Support Services now applies to Sutter Health IS as well

All funding for conferences, training, subscriptions and travel will also fall under a Sutter Health IS invoked freeze – any exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis based on IS strategic priorities

A review of staffing levels, primarily within but not exclusive to the EHR project, will run through May

Many of you heard me say in a town hall meeting this spring that if there isn’t enough demand for a business, the business must change its operations to meet the demand that does exist. Without a hospital or region today with the business case and capital to definitely confirm another acute care implementation, our inpatient EHR staffing exceeds current demand. Similarly, without an affiliate to reimburse us for our services (previously budgeted), all of Sutter Health IS actually now faces more than a $4 million shortfall in our 2009 budget. Regrettably, we cannot address this gap with the freezes we have on hiring and spending alone.

In order to sustain our long-term mission and improve our overall affordability for our patients, affiliates across Sutter Health have also had to make tough decisions about programs and staffing. Our affordability challenges and patients’ ability to access our services existed well before the economic downturn – the challenge continues to grow. So, although Sutter Health overall did have a fairly strong year last year, multi-million dollar losses in the stock market and the decision to fully fund our employee pension (a $500 million investment) mean we simply do not have enough capital to fund the EHR, IS systems, facilities projects and other commitments within our original desired timelines.

Our values, including affordability, will anchor us through the tough times ahead. Again, I wish I had the full picture to communicate today. You have my continuing commitment to sustain open communication as information becomes available, including full details about the outcomes of the staffing review by late May. Believe me; I know the lack of complete details may create anxiety. Please trust that we will do everything possible to minimize any staffing impact.

Should you have questions or concerns, please speak with your supervisor or a Human Resources representative. As always, I am also available to help answer your questions.


Respectfully,
Jon

[aftense09]

when people who make 200k cant afford health insurance its probably time for a change just my two cents.