Our front line healthcare workers in Michigan have been heroic as the state battles the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The state has ranked consistently in the top 10 nationally in cases and deaths since the nationwide public health emergency began, and these individuals have labored tirelessly to stunt the numbers while putting their own health on the line.
Given this sacrifice, I was startled to see recent reports that large southeast Michigan hospital systems were laying off workers and cutting jobs. Beaumont Health announced they would be laying off nearly 2,500 workers and permanently cutting 450 positions. Likewise, Henry Ford Health System announced roughly 2,800 layoffs.
We must forge a balance at our hospitals and clinics to prevent job loss in such a pivotal sector. The amount of people in need of preventative or replacement surgeries has not decreased, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has continued to crack down on these procedures and treatments through May 28 by executive order to focus solely on the increase of COVID-19.
Diana Farrington (R) is the state Representative of the 30th district
That directive essentially outlaws some segments of basic healthcare and – unsurprisingly – the trickle-down effect has meant less staff is required at medical facilities.
And this is all happening in a large, metro area. In some rural communities, people may only have access to one nearby regional or consolidated facility. What are they to do if layoffs or closures happen at those hospitals and clinics?
The governor recently offered some wiggle room within the preventative surgery directive, allowing hospitals the authority to schedule them as long as they have enough personal protection equipment on hand to keep staff and patients safe. But that easing won’t bring back jobs that have been cut, and hospitals will still have liability concerns when deciding whether to perform these procedures within an ongoing, hastily organized emergency order. Telling medical care facilities to ‘do it if they want’ is different than solidified support for getting people the non-COVID medical care they need to live a healthier, happier life.
Until this vagueness is properly corrected and clear leadership is provided, those needing preventive medical procedures will continue to be left in the lurch – creating more suffering on top of what COVID-19 has caused for so many.
Diana Farrington (R) is the state Representative of the 30th district in Macomb County that includes Utica, as well as portions of Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.
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