Oswego Health to furlough 25 percent of workforce as COVID-19 disrupts services

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health announced it plans to furlough 25 percent of its workforce, or about 300 of its 1,200 employees, effective April 13 because the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt its revenue streams.

Oswego Health says it has seen a reduction in revenue of $180,000 per day since the beginning of March. The decline represents about 50 percent of its typical revenue and over the period of one-month would total $5.4 million.

Oswego Health says that like many health systems across the country it’s being financially challenged by the “mandatory” suspension of elective medical procedures and declines in regular patient visits to doctor’s offices.

“We anticipate the furlough period to last for a period of 10-12 weeks,” Marquand Brown, VP of human resources, said in a statement. “However, it is our hope that services across the system will begin to improve sooner and we can start bringing employees back to work before then.”

Oswego Health says it has contacted the Hospital Association of New York, along with state and federal lawmakers hoping to secure “additional financial assistance.”

“Although this is a significant impact to our employees, Oswego Health stands prepared and has maintained the essential skilled workforce to manage a surge in COVID-19 patients,” Michael Harlovic, president & CEO of Oswego Health, said.

About Oswego Health

Oswego Health includes the 164-bed community Oswego Hospital; a 28-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral-health service locations; The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility; and Springside at Seneca Hill, a retirement community.

Oswego Health also has health-services centers located across Oswego County.