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March 13, 2009
CINCINNATI - An industry long considered safe has become the latest victim in the job market meltdown.
University Hospital and the Drake Center have laid off close to 50 workers combined, and Drake officials said the move wasn't easy.
The rehabilitation center laid off 23 workers, and Thursday was the first day without them.
"Over the years that people have said that health care is recession proof, but I've always argued that it's not necessarily recession proof," said Karen Bankston, Drake's senior vice president and site director. "It's just impacted in a different way."
Most of the workers laid off were managers and office workers, and Bankston said the cuts were side effect of the job market.
As the unemployment rate goes up, so does the number of people without health insurance.
Last quarter, medical facilities like Drake covered millions of dollars in patient care for free.
"They're now in the hospital but they have no insurance," Bankston said. "Their hospital bill is now $400,000, and they have no way to pay."
Bankston said she was still concerned about the economy and its impact on Drake, but the facility continues to grow and sees more patients than ever.
In fact, Drake continues to hire new workers for some of its most in-demand programs.
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