(Replace: Union points assertion, celebrates victory)

As an alternative urges donations to caregivers fund; will search damages from hacked timecard supplier

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — St. Charles Well being System late Friday dropped its demand that staff repay some $2 million in overpayments after weeks of employee and union objections and a petition drive by tons of of caregivers refusing to make the funds with out an unbiased audit to confirm the figures’ accuracy.

Two unions representing St. Charles staff declared victory after the announcement and known as off plans for a information convention on Monday, which was the deadline the hospital had set for repayments or cost plans.

Here is the complete assertion despatched to St. Charles staff by Dr. Steve Gordon, the hospital group’s interim president and CEO:

UKG Compensation Replace 

“Caregivers,  

Thanks once more to your persistence as we now have continued to work via the UKG outage points.  

We have now heard frustrations and confusion from lots of you over the data and instruments supplied to confirm the overpayment quantities. Caregivers have each proper to grasp the greenback quantity we’re asking them to repay. Though we proceed to consider it will be significant that individuals who had been paid for time they didn’t work pay these {dollars} again to the well being system, we merely don’t have the assets to help the tons of of sophisticated knowledge requests we’re receiving.  

I need you to know I’ve heard you and I’ve made the choice that St. Charles will now not search compensation of those funds from caregivers. Relatively, we hope that these of you who know you had been overpaid will think about making a donation in that very same quantity to the St. Charles Cares (Caregiver Help Fund) of the St. Charles Basis.

It’s straightforward to donate on-line and we want to see this unlucky scenario lead to direct help for our caregivers. We additionally plan to pursue damages from the seller, UKG. If profitable, we’ll match all caregiver donations to the fund. 

Greater than something, I wish to acknowledge and reward our inside Payroll workforce, our timekeepers and so many extra who’ve gone above and past to be sure you had been paid as precisely as potential given the data you supplied. They’ve obtained an extremely unfair quantity of criticism and backlash for a scenario that was induced not by them, however by a ransomware assault on a third-party vendor. We stand by the professionalism, accuracy and diligence of our Payroll and timekeeping groups. 

Already, greater than 100 caregivers have paid again the overpayment quantity. We enormously respect your immediate responses and dedication to doing what’s proper. When you now not want to make your compensation, you possibly can contact the Payroll workforce straight by Oct. 14 to make this request. As well as, greater than 300 caregivers have accomplished the paperwork to begin the compensation course of. The Payroll workforce won’t course of these agreements. If you’re amongst this group, please know you might be additionally strongly inspired to donate to the overpayment quantity to the St. Charles Cares (Caregiver Help Fund). 

This example has additionally delivered to mild various points round timecard practices and accountability. Going ahead, you will note a robust concentrate on enchancment on this space. 

Thanks once more to so lots of you who’ve already chosen to do the appropriate factor in a scenario that has been extraordinarily tough to navigate for all concerned. 

Sincerely,

Steve”

Information launch/media advisory from the Oregon Nurses Affiliation:

Canceled: ONA/OFNHP Press Convention Scheduled for Monday August 29 at 10 a.m.

“With St. Charles Well being System’s assertion this night that it’s now not demanding repayments of alleged overpayments from hospital employees, the Oregon Nurses Affiliation (ONA) and the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Well being Professionals (OFNHP) are canceling Monday’s scheduled press convention. 

It’s gratifying to know that the voices of tons of of nurses and allied well being care staff from throughout the St. Charles system have lastly been heard. With the distraction of the payroll disaster behind us, we’re keen to show our consideration again to what we will do to enhance affected person care and handle important points together with protected staffing, relaxation and meal breaks, recruitment and retention of certified employees, and offering high-quality affected person care for everybody in our communities.  

ONA and OFNHP are taking a second to have fun this victory – a victory that might not have been potential with out the onerous work and dedication of our greater than a one thousand members throughout the St. Charles system – however we won’t relaxation right here. There may be a lot extra work to be achieved for our sufferers and our neighborhood and we might be releasing a press release on our subsequent steps early subsequent week. 

It is a proud second for the nurses and well being care suppliers at St. Charles, however there may be a lot work left to do. St. Charles could have achieved the appropriate factor this time, however we’ll proceed to press them to deal with the various different points and critical issues we face each day. ”