For about two weeks, rumors have been circulating that Sebastian River Medical Center wasn’t paying its employees. There was also a discussion that about 50 nurses were laid off, and doctors were leaving because they weren’t getting paid.
Other gossip accused the Sebastian Hospital of mismanaging COVID-19 monies, which appears unfounded. Nothing like that happened here in Sebastian, Florida. We also conversed with a few hospital employees who claimed to be unaware of the situation. However, they mentioned that while some nurses were relocated, others were unfortunately laid off.
We contacted the hospital with these questions, and they admitted that they implemented a “limited workforce reduction.”
We spoke with hospital spokeswoman Cathy Pague, Director of Marketing, who said, “Recently, Sebastian River Medical Center implemented a limited workforce reduction, which also included the elimination of some open positions and the transfer of some non-clinical staff to other positions within our larger system. This is a reflection of hospital volume and normal market fluctuations. We are confident in our ability to meet all of our obligations while maintaining our ongoing commitment to provide high-quality care to the Treasure Coast community.”
The hospital is a for-profit business, so workforce reductions aren’t unusual during market fluctuations and volume. We also discovered that a couple of doctors left to pursue other opportunities.
As we passed by the hospital, it was evident that the surrounding greenery wasn’t well-maintained. Notably, the hedges along US-1, which are typically well-trimmed, now appear overgrown and untended. We reached out to the hospital for a comment, but received no response.
Additionally, we’ve learned that the hospital withdrew its sponsorship for the high school band this year. There are also reports of outstanding debts with several local vendors.
Regardless of these issues, the hospital remains operational at this time. We’ll keep you informed with any further developments.
