Central Coast hospitals reallocating healthcare workers during pandemic

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Job losses in healthcare are increasing as shutdowns and restrictions continue during the pandemic. But, here on the Central Coast, many of those workers are being moved to where their skills can still be used.

43,000 healthcare jobs were lost in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's estimated by June, 60,000 family medical practices will close or scale back which will affect nearly 800,000 workers.

However, jobs cuts and layoffs started after a surge in coronavirus patients. Many states have stopped elective medical procedures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That has led to the declines in revenue, which has forced hospitals and medical clinics to implement layoffs, furloughs, along with schedule and salary cuts.

"They are not doing the job they were assigned with they signed up," says SVMHS CEO Pete Delgado who also says some of the works have been reallocated. "They have the skill sets that they can provide, both in other places in the hospital, other than where they were employed to as well as in the community," says Delgado.

Olga Morales is one healthcare worker whose job has been shifted.

"We're actually doing something for our population, since they really can't do much for themselves, says Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Patient Advocate Olga Morales.

She was with the mobile health clinic. Now, she's calling patients at home.

"I'm actually reaching out to the patients about their situation right now.. to the elderly since they are the most vulnerable at this times," says Morales.

CHOMP in Monterey has not let any staff go, but they have shifted employees to other areas in the hospital and hours have been cut.

Natividad has implemented similar measures.