175 people terminated or laid-off with minimal patient impact? Really? If they were so unimportant, then why were they there in the first place? Did they think pension costs were going to be reduced in the future? I heard that they are replacing a lot of the positions with "Temporary employees"...nice. Perhaps some Temp Administrators would cut the costs further and also have a minimal patient impact since they don't "provide direct patient care" either. Perhaps if the parking lot was left alone there would be more money for workers. Now they have 175 more parking spaces. Congrats !

So the people who own the agencies the hospital hires people through at inflated salaries who are not legally eligible for civil sevice positions will get even more money now by taking a chunk of the pay of every "temporary employee". I would love to know who owns those agencies, and if it is anyone connected to the powers that be in the corporation...

Another way that this administration could close the budget gap would be to lay off half if not more of their executive staff. At this time there are approximately 14 VPs. With this kind of executive staff comes their support staff, secretaries, assistants. It seems to me that these positions are not vital to the operation of the hospital. Some years ago, they ran the hospital with 6 VP's and at that time the corporation was considered "top heavy". Why now do they need this excess baggage? They are diluting themselves by thinking that this major lay off will not impact patient care. The professional Doctors and Nurses already operate at less than optimum levels. At this time it is the doctors and nurses that are ensuring that labs get down to be processed and are doing the transporting patients to a much needed radiological exam. Does this make sense? Taking a nurse or doctor away from a unit to perform such tasks is not what I would call cost effective. Now, after these layoffs will the nursing staff be required to take care of the patients, transport them on transfer, then go on to break out the mop and disinfectant to clean the beds and mop the floors as well? Art Gianelli and his hachet man Larry Slasky have one thing and one thing on their agenda. Keep the money and positions that ensure their "good ole boys" have a place in the corporation and a secure salary. How they can even say that these layoffs will not impact patient care is unbelievable.

The bottom line is that these individuals do not care about the patients, mostly the less fortunate of society. They are inconsequential to their bottom line of keeping the big wigs pockets lined and advancing themselves in the political arena. When Art gianelli took office it was felt that we finally had someone who had the moral compass to do the right thing for everyone involved, the patients and the staff. One lesson that has been learned by all of his actions is beware of wolves in sheeps clothing. Shame on you Mr. Gianelli and Mr. Slaksy. Remember, karma in life is a given. One day I hope you find yourselves in the position that these 175 hard workers have found themselves in today. Happy Holidays to you and your 14 VP's and all of their support staff that so smugly have held onto their jobs even though most are paid to do nothing as a favor to someone, someone who can help you in your political endeavors.

Let's face it, this position is a stepping stone for Gianelli. Maybe he just wants to get five years in so he can have health benefits for life like so many of those who come to the corporation. If so, he should not be there much longer. I wonder if they are going to announce how many of those laid off got calls today to come back to work because they screwed up and laid off people they should not have? Hmmm? Or if this is a publicity stunt to sway whomever will be assigned to the arbitration into thinking they are actually as broke as they claim. Maybe they need another audit, though no one seemed to care about the results of the last one. I wonder if anyone on the board of directors there takes their positions at all seriously? Looks like ....NO.

It seems that This Hospital which has been trying to improve their standards has yet again failed this community. Laying off 175 people which Im sure were needed, but let keep those high paid no-show personnal around. GOOD JOB.