[ad_1]
Hundreds of people filled the sidewalks outside Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center on Friday afternoon to protest the first day unvaccinated staff were put on leave.
Thursday marked the deadline for Legacy Health employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or to have a request for a medical or religious exemption approved. Those who did not comply were placed on unpaid administrative leave from Friday and could lose their jobs on October 19.
According to Legacy, 794 of its system-wide employees have been put on leave. Of those 794, Legacy said, 180 employees have received their first dose of vaccine and can return to work when fully immunized.
Eligible for rehiring
The hospital system said on Friday that 94% of its staff were fully immunized.
Spokesman Ryan Frank said staff and patient safety is Legacy’s top priority and employees can be rehired if they choose to be vaccinated.
“All of our 14,000 caregivers have worked tirelessly to care for our patients and the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Frank said. “For all of our healthcare workers, we cannot express our gratitude enough. Their contributions and sacrifices are too numerous to be measured. We are deeply grateful for their service and contributions to Legacy.
Greg Michael, a registered nurse in Salmon Creek, held a sign on Friday outside the hospital. His request for a religious exemption from the vaccination mandate was rejected. He was joined on Friday by his brother, Gavin Michael, and his 9-month-old son born in Legacy.
He was disappointed that the hospital he called “a great place to work” fired him after he had volunteered there for years before being hired as a nurse.
“If they wanted to take me back, I would,” he said. “If things turn around, I want to come back.”
Gavin Michael called it “disheartening” to see his brother go to school and work hard to get his job at the hospital, only to then lose his job within a year of starting.
“Nursing is my dream”
In the message to employees whose religious exemption requests were denied – which some employees shared with The Columbian – hospital management said their requests were denied on the basis of consistency – if they had already received a vaccine – and the specificity of their religious beliefs.
But three staff from the Women’s Services Department said they didn’t think it should be up to their employer to determine how serious they are about their religious beliefs. They picketed outside the hospital on Friday after being laid off before losing their jobs in two and a half weeks.
Erica McClure said she is now looking for another place to work and plans to leave the area to find a hospital that will grant her a religious exemption. She has been with Legacy for eight years.
“I just have to follow my dream of nursing wherever it takes me now,” she said. “Nursing is my dream and I’m not giving it up. “
The hospital’s website also lists the services that are consolidated due to staffing. The Legacy Lab Patient Service Center locations in Camas, Beaverton, Oregon, Lake Oswego, Oregon, and West Linn, Oregon, are temporarily closed in order to move staff to other locations. Salmon Creek Medical Center is consolidating its ultrasound services, according to Legacy.
[ad_2]
Source link