Becker's Hospital Review

24 CFO / FINANCE Sutter Health workers say they are missing pay under new system By Kelly Gooch A union representing nurses and healthcare workers at Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health says a new payroll system, Workday, has caused payroll errors since the health system implemented it in July. e California Nurses Association/Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union represents more than 8,000 nurses and healthcare workers at 16 Northern California Sutter Health facilities, according to an Aug. 5 news release. Sutter is a 23-hospital health system with more than 53,000 total employees. Union members contend that nurses and healthcare workers have been affected by errors that include missing base pay, missing pay for call shis, inaccurate pay rates for shis, incorrect paid time off rates and incorrect deductions. ey also contend the issues have been ongoing since July 1 and that Sutter has not corrected them despite employees bringing the issues to the health system's attention. "I can't believe that we've gone through multiple pay periods already and the payroll errors are still happening," Carol Hawthorne-Johnson, RN, a nurse at Castro Valley, Calif.-based Sutter Eden Medical Center, said in the release. "is is not right." In a statement shared with Becker's, Sutter said: "We recently implemented a new system for our human resources and payroll activities. is significant technical upgrade is complex and has resulted in some payroll-related disruptions. We are making every effort to resolve outstanding compensation and payroll issues." Sutter also said employees will be reimbursed for incidental fees incurred due to the payroll issues. "We regret any impact this has had on our team members," the health system's statement reads. "We value our employees and are grateful for their patience during this transition period." n UNC flagship hospital's Medicare contract in jeopardy By Ayla Ellison C MS is giving UNC Health's flagship hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C., until July 23 to correct patient safety issues or lose its Medicare funding, The News & Observer reported July 11. State inspectors conducted a survey of UNC Medical Center on June 17, and an "immediate jeopardy was identified," according to a June 30 letter CMS sent to the hospital's president and obtained by The News & Observer. The letter noted the hospital failed to meet four conditions of participation in the Medicare program, including infection control and patients' rights. "During a recent complaint survey, issues were investigated including a patient suicide after discharge and infection prevention issues related to documenting the COVID-19 vaccination status of vendors and the physical spacing of patients and visitors in our busy emergency department waiting room," a UNC Health spokesperson told The News & Observer July 11. The hospital submitted a correction plan to CMS before the July 5 deadline, and hospital officials expect investigators to conduct a follow-up survey of the facility in coming weeks. If CMS determines that the reasons for termination remain during the follow-up survey, the hospital's Medicare contract will be terminated July 23, according to the letter the agency sent hospital officials. If corrections have been made, the termination procedures will be halted. UNC Medical Center is one of two hospitals in the state facing potential Medicare termination. Wilson (N.C.) Medical Center could lose its Medicare contract after state investigators identified immediate jeopardy to patients' health and safety stemming from three events early this year. The hospital submitted a corrective action plan to CMS June 28 and is awaiting a response. n

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