Trinity Health of New England informed medical staff at its three Connecticut hospitals that they must now work for a third-party company based in California.
Trinity Health told employees they would lose their jobs if they did not agree within 90 days to work for the company called Virtuity.
“Trinity Health Of New England has partnered with Vituity, the nation’s largest physician-owned and operated medical partnership group, to manage emergency medicine and hospital medicine services at our acute care hospitals in Connecticut ” the healthcare provider said in a statement. statement.
The decision affects more than 100 medical employees at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford and Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford.
Lawmakers fear the move could worsen an existing statewide staffing shortage.
“If these things don’t work in the right direction, it will be a health care challenge and a disaster,” said Sen. Saud Anwar (D-Windsor South).
Anwar and Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) both sounded the alarm Tuesday about what would happen if medical staff decided not to work for Virtuity.
“Could there be disruptions in patient care during a transfer if some doctors do not join this new group? » asked Gordon.
Both lawmakers are doctors. Anwar is chairman of the legislature’s public health committee, while Gordon is also a member.
Trinity Health said it has a 15-year partnership with Vituity, which describes itself as a physician-owned company.
“This collaboration prioritizes physician engagement, ensures seamless transitions, and ensures exceptional patient outcomes,” Virtuity said in a statement.
Neither Trinity Health nor Vituity responded to several questions, including whether staff were guaranteed the same pay and benefits.
They also would not say whether Trinity Health would offer similar positions elsewhere to any workers who do not want to work for Vituity, or whether Vituity is committed to maintaining staffing levels if employees choose to leave.
The deal does not require state approval, but Anwar and Gordon both said they are trying to convince Trinity Health to back out of the deal.
“That’s even more of what we’re seeing when it comes to these types of arrangements, the type of business decisions that are being made,” Gordon said.
Trinity Health, however, would need approval from the state’s Office of Health Strategy if it wanted to reduce or eliminate services due to declining staffing.
Lawmakers said they are trying to make major reforms to Connecticut’s health care system this session.
News of Trinity Health’s decision follows Prospect Medical Holdings’ decision to file for bankruptcy over the weekend.
Prospect Medical, a California-based private equity firm, owns Waterbury Hospital, Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital.
Gordon and Anwar said they favor legislation that would prevent private equity firms like Prospect from buying hospitals in the future.
“How can we ensure that not only are people healthy, but health systems are healthy as well? » said Anwar.
They also plan to look at ways to recruit more people into the medical field. And they want additional protections to protect patient care whenever hospitals or other health care providers cut staff.