Health care workers devote their lives to helping others, but like many other businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, the health care industry is facing financial turmoil.
A total of 366 employees at Crystal Run Healthcare were recently furloughed. News 12 was told many employees are working on a reduced schedule, and some have even returned to work.
There is no word if or when everyone will be brought back full time.
The breakdown of employees who were furloughed:
239 at various Middletown offices
31 in Monroe
24 in Newburgh
33 in West Nyack.
The rest were at other locations from Rockland to Sullivan counties, but there's been an impact statewide.
According to the New York Department of Labor's website, during the week of May 9, the health care and social assistance industry had an almost 1,900% hike in unemployment claims compared to the same a year ago.
"The impact on physicians in New York state is devastating in terms of their practice. They're really in crisis trying to keep their doors open," says Bonnie Litvack, the president of the Medical Society of the State of New York.
She says the society recently conducted a survey. "Seventy-nine percent of them had more than a 50% reduction in their case volume. So, they're seeing a lot less patients, which means they're seeing a lot less revenue," she says,
While acknowledging that the fewer patients are likely over infection concerns, Litvack stresses doctors are taking precautions to ensure they are safe.
News 12 was not told which jobs were furloughed, but Crystal Run Healthcare says it is not planning on any more furloughs at this time.
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