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Hernando Today

Oak Hill Hospital Lays Off 7 Workers

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 11, 2008

Updated: 12/11/2008 07:12 pm

BROOKSVILLE - Oak Hill Hospital seemed to be hitting its stride two weeks ago.
Patient volumes were at the same levels as last year.
"Since then, things have changed quite a bit," said a somber Rich Linkul, the marketing director at the hospital.
Hospital executives told seven employees Thursday morning their jobs were being eliminated. The group of employees included administrative assistants, maintenance technicians and switchboard operators, said Chief Executive Officer Mickey Smith.
The reason for the layoffs was the dramatic declines in patient visits during the last four days of November.
On Thanksgiving, 16 patients were treated at Oak Hill.
The statistics did not improve during the next few days.
From Nov. 27 through 30, a total of 62 patients were admitted to Oak Hill Hospital. During that same five-day span in 2007, 116 patients were admitted. That is a decrease of 54 admissions.
Oak Hill earns approximately $8,900 per patient. The year-to-year comparison means the hospital lost more than $480,000 during those four days.
The 40 or so layoffs at Spring Hill and Brooksville Regional hospitals last month were sobering reminders of how a recession can affect health care, often without warning.
Linkul, when asked to comment last month about the job losses suffered by the competition, said Oak Hill was "hitting just about every target" in terms of patient volumes for the month.
A few days later, it all changed.
"This doesn't make you feel warm or fuzzy, that's for sure," said Rob Foreman, vice president of physician and community services. "At least it's not 40, thank God."
The seven employees were offered severance packages. Five of them already have interviewing opportunities at some of the other hospitals owned by Hospital Corporation of America, Oak Hill's parent company, Smith said.
Oak Hill employs approximately 930 people.
While seven is a relatively low number of layoffs compared to other hospitals across Florida, "it's still devastating for those folks and this environment," Smith said.
Additionally, Oak Hill has opted against filling two open positions, which will save the hospital $450,000 per year in payroll expenses, Smith said.
Hernando County's unemployment rate is at 9.7 percent, ranking it fifth worst among Florida's 67 counties.
That, along with declines in retirement benefits, has caused more people to defer treatment at local hospitals. Either they lost their insurance or cannot afford the high cost of COBRA, a health coverage program available for those who leave their jobs.
"This was completely out of the blue," said Smith as he pointed to a line graph that illustrated the sudden drop-off in patients. "We track this stuff."
"Thanksgiving came and there was a big sigh of relief," said Linkul as he shook his head. "Everything was fine."
Smith and others are wary of Christmas and New Year's Day. Both holidays fall on a Thursday, which could be followed by lean weekends, just like what happened after Thanksgiving.
Employees will have an opportunity to meet with Smith during the next few days to discuss the situation. He will do his best to assure them, but he can only promise them so much.
"Is this it? Are we done?" Smith rhetorically asked as he shrugged his shoulders. "I do hope so."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com

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