Support includes substantial financial commitments, universal masking policy, and creative benefits
TAMPA, Florida – April 2, 2020 – HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, is announcing a comprehensive effort to protect its colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic. West Florida Division hospital colleagues impacted include Blake Medical Center, Brandon Regional Hospital, Citrus Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Englewood Community Hospital, Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Largo Medical Center, Medical Center of Trinity, Memorial Hospital of Tampa, Northside Hospital, Oak Hill Hospital, Palms of Pasadena Hospital, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, South Bay Hospital and St. Petersburg General Hospital.
Over the past few weeks, many hospitals have experienced a decrease in surgery and outpatient volume as a result of COVID-19, leading to a reduction of hours for many of our colleagues. In response, HCA Healthcare announced a new “pandemic pay continuation” policy to help protect the financial security for front-line caregivers at all facilities. It applies to all HCA Healthcare employees, including those at area hospitals.
For colleagues with reduced hours who work in clinical facilities or support areas, we will attempt to redeploy them so that they can keep working. Those who cannot be redeployed will receive 70 percent of base pay for up to seven weeks until HCA Healthcare better understands the long-term implications of this pandemic on the organization.
“This pandemic is unique, and our caregivers’ concerns are real,” said Ravi Chari, MD, President, HCA Healthcare West Florida. “We want them to know that we care like family, and we stand with them. We appreciate all that our caregivers do each day and we thank them for making a difference, by providing compassionate care to those we are privileged to serve.”
For colleagues working in patient care facilities who are quarantined per CDC guidelines, we will pay 100 percent of base pay for scheduled hours regardless of where the exposure took place. Colleagues who do not work in a patient care facility and are quarantined per CDC guidelines, will be eligible for short term disability while they are ill.
Scrub laundering will be provided for colleagues who care for COVID-19 patients to help prevent potentially carrying the virus home on clothing. In addition, HCA Healthcare is working with major hotel chains to provide free housing for caregivers who provide care to COVID-19 patients and prefer not to go home to their loved ones after their shift.
Other benefits and programs already in place include options for child or elder care, free Doctors on Demand telemedicine to assist those who cannot get in to see their regular provider, HCA Hope Fund grants for colleagues with financial needs, and emotional support and counseling services.
In addition, HCA Healthcare announced that its senior leadership team will take a 30 percent cut in pay until the pandemic passes. HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen will donate 100 percent of his paycheck for eight weeks to the HCA Hope Fund, and other senior leaders will make significant contributions. Similarly, HCA Healthcare’s Board of Directors has waived their cash compensation for the remainder of the year allowing the company to make an additional contribution to the HCA Hope Fund.
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About HCA West Florida
HCA West Florida provides a complete continuum of high quality programs and services to meet the healthcare needs of residents and businesses throughout west Florida, caring for more than 1.2 million patients last year. HCA West Florida includes 15 hospitals, 25 ER locations, 14 ambulatory surgery center locations, numerous physician practices, graduate medical education programs, a regional lab, and consolidated service center. HCA West Florida is affiliated with HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine.