Letter to the editor: Independence layoffs will further hurt care
Share this post:
More layoffs at Independence Health will further hurt the care that patients are receiving since the merger between Excela Health and Butler Health (“Independence Health cuts 151 workers, locations not specified,” April 9, TribLive). The “retirement” of several Excela administrators while being replaced with those from Butler should be of concern. There’s already a lack of staff in the emergency rooms and on the floors of the hospitals.
A family member of mine had to go to the emergency room at Latrobe Hospital early on New Year’s Eve and was still in the emergency room New Year’s Day, but she was moved three times in that area. She never got a room, never received anything to eat, and her son had to go ask one of the two nurses in that area if someone could get her some water! This same person was admitted to Latrobe Hospital in February. The room was the size of a broom closet. The nurses and aides were very good and very busy.
While they tell you there aren’t any open beds, I believe it’s because there already isn’t enough staff to cover all the floors. It stands to reason these layoffs will only make things worse. The bottom line should be the care of the patients.
Janet Brunozzi
Greensburg