Erlanger tileAfter a two month freeze, Erlanger Health System's 4,500 employees will soon be able to start building vacation time again, the hospital's CEO announced today.
The vacation time had originally been frozen in early March as Erlanger - over $3 million in the red at the time - attempted to staunch financial losses.
"I made the commitment to you that once we had obtained federal funding, Erlanger would be in a better position financially, and [paid time off] accrual would be reinstated," wrote hospital CEO Kevin Spiegel in a memo to employees today.
On April 1, the hospital learned that it had received federal approval to access Public Hospital Supplemental Payment Pool - a funding mechanism that could allow Erlanger to draw down $30 million dollars through intergovernmental transfers.
Millions more in funds will come from the restoration to Tennessee of a federal program that will provide approximately $80 million for Tennessee hospitals to share to help care for the uninsured.
Spiegel said hospital leaders anticipate receiving the funding in the coming week.
"I want to thank each of you who made this sacrifice on behalf of our organization during a difficult time," Spiegel said in the memo.
The paid time off accrual will kick back in starting the April 27 pay period.