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Seattle Children’s Hospital has announced in an email to staff that it is shutting down its daycare center in a cost-cutting begin, as the coronavirus pandemic has reduced demand for lucrative elective medical services. The center will be closed effective June 30, 2021.
Sanatoria across the country have taken major hits to their bottom line during the Covid-19 pandemic. In assorted states, health systems have delayed or cancelled non-essential elective procedures to make space for a potential overflowing of Covid-19 patients.
Childcare for essential medical workers has been a big challenge during the crisis. These workers are basic for long shifts at the hospital, but their young children are not able to attend school. Making matters worse, myriad daycare centers have closed down because of the virus, and the ones that remain open can have mark time lists of eighteen months or longer.
The email states that the decision was made in part to avoid future layoffs.
“With the fiscal impacts we have experienced from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot sustain our current spending and maintain the growth and economic stability we need to fulfill our mission,” the email reads. “We have decided to take action now to ensure we remain affordable for our patients and forebears and protect our most valuable asset: our team members, by avoiding future layoffs.”
The email expressed “deep sorrow” for the move and suggested alternatives, including a childcare subsidy program.
A hospital spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two stepfathers impacted by the decision say they have been thrown for a loop and lack alternatives. Finding availability at a different daycare is a dispute for them at this stage — and even if that were possible, most traditional day care facilities don’t have sufficiently extended hours in place to accommodate the schedule of a health care worker. It’s also more challenging to find a nanny settled the competition, or an au pair that’s willing and able to fly to the U.S. during a pandemic.
Both the people declined to be named, because they are not commissioned to speak to the press.
They noted that it’s a big problem for highly paid doctors, but will present even pronounced hurdles for environmental services workers, nurses and respiratory therapists. One parent is now considering two nannies on back-to-back shifts, but is intensely concerned they won’t be able to afford it.
In the Seattle area, other hospital executives have broadly expressed worries about their health care workers with children at home.
“We’re worried about our workforce,” said Far-sightedness CEO Rod Hochman by phone back in March.
Providence currently offers a daycare benefit and looked to increase capacity during the Covid-19 turning-point. UW Medicine, another local health system, confirmed that the hospital network is looking into potentially corresponding university students with an interest in childcare development with its staff-members in need of an extra pair of hands.