Massachusetts General Brigham (MG&B) is laying off hundreds of workers as it grapples with a $250 million projected budget gap. The move affects non-clinical and non-patient facing roles, with CEO Dr. Anne Klibanski citing inflation, operational inefficiencies, and capacity crises as factors.
The health system, which employs over 82,000 people in Massachusetts, is providing market-competitive severance packages and benefits coverage to affected employees. The layoffs are expected to be complete by March.
Nurses and other staff members expressed concerns about the impact on patient care and workload distribution. Paula Ward, an ICU nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said: “It’s going to ripple down to us.” Ward noted that while the hospital has absorbed patients from other closed facilities, it does not expect a decrease in patient load.
MG&B cited several challenges, including inflation, inefficiencies, and capacity issues. The system has recently expanded its “Home Hospital” program, which sends caregivers to patients’ homes at a lower cost than traditional inpatient care. However, this expansion demands critical investment in operations and financial health.
CEO Klibanski stated that the organization must manage its finances with precision and innovation to maintain quality care, research, and education. The layoffs are part of efforts to stabilize MG&B’s financial health and ensure its continued leadership in healthcare transformation.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/mass-general-brigham-layoffs-boston-massachusetts