Sallisaw Hospital Reduces Number of Employees by 43

On Wednesday Northeastern Health System-Sequoyah announced a reduction in force of 43 employees.

Officials at the Sallisaw hospital said in a press release that because of the steady decline in hospital reimbursement and patient volume, the organization cannot continue to run at its current state. In order to provide excellence in healthcare and to continue with the positive changes the hospital has made since last July, the organization decided a staffing realignment was necessary. 

As of Thursday, April 5th, NHS Sequoyah’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a reduction in force by 43 members. Twenty-three of those staff members will be offered a transfer to NHS Tahlequah in order to maintain employment and benefits. 

In a letter provided to terminated employees the hospital stated positions were terminated due to "current economic conditions, failure to meet projected revenue and the need to eliminate unnecessary and costly position redundancy." The letter was signed by Brian Woodliff, Chief Executive Officer, Northeastern Health System.

One employee stated that she had worked at the hospital for five years and was offered a $500 severance package. She also stated that she and fellow employees had no warning of a pending reduction in force and were all told on Wednesday at approximately 3pm. Terminated employees were asked to leave the building immediately according to sources. 

In their press release the hospital also stated that they plan to temporarily remove from service some inpatient rooms for a remodel phase. This phase will allow for the rooms to undergo enhancements that will bring them up to regulations for higher level acuity patients, as well as, allow for technology, such as echocardiogram, nuclear medicine and in-house MRI, to be acquired and placed in these rooms.

Pam Cloud, Managing News Director

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