Monday, March 23, 2009

Boston Doctors donate money to save layoffs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center




Another interesting post by Sarah Rubenstein in today's Wall Street Journal Healthcare Blog. Check it out:


"Doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston are reaching into their own pockets to try to help shore up the hospital’s finances.
The Boston Globe reports that the heads of 13 medical departments say they’ll donate a combined $350,000 to the hospital — about $27,000 from each one’s annual pay — to further cut down on expected staff layoffs.
Hospital CEO Paul Levy, who has been engaging in a very public dialogue about the hospital’s budget woes, said earlier this week that he expects about 150 layoffs. He had anticipated about 600 before finding alternative cost-cutting ideas.
The department heads also sent out a note soliciting contributions from about 1,100 doctors, the Globe reports. Some of those doctors are on staff, while others are affiliated with the hospital but not employed by it.
“In my two departments, I’m quite confident that the great majority of physicians will participate. I don’t know at what level,” DeWayne Pursley, chair of the Department of Neonatology and acting chair of obstetrics and gynecology, told the Globe. “People have their own personal issues. Personally, I have three kids in college.”
Levy, for his part, posted emails from hospital staffers expressing appreciation for the doctors’ help. "

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