SEATTLE -- Money trouble at Swedish Hospital and a big part of the problem is due to thousands of uninsured.
At 22, Dominic Abron lost his health insurance when his mom lost her job. It happened just when he needed surgery to repair a broken hand. Unable to pay, the hospital ended up footing the bill.
"My hand is a thousand times better than it was. I'm so happy that I was granted to get surgery," said Abron.
This year the hospital is spending $24 million more than expected for patients who can't pay.
"The way the economy has effected us we're seeing a continuing deterioration of our revenues," said Swedish Chief Administrator Mike Carter.
And adding more financial pressure, lower medicaid and medicare reimbursements from the government. Swedish will layoff workers mostly behind the scenes staff in pharmacy, labs and food services. Will it effect patient care is the big question.
"Let me say that we've used as a philosophy to keep the cuts as far away from the bed side as we can," said Carter.
Swedish is not alone with nearly 150 layoffs. Providence Hospital in Everett will drop 150 to 175 positions. Multicare in Tacoma to lose 300 to 350 positions. Many other hospitals are struggling too.
Some Swedish doctors like orthopedic surgeon John Miyano donate their time to help the uninsured, a growing population lost in the system.
"People are waiting to come in for evaluations and some are not being treated at all," said Dr. John Miyano.
"I think the current model is unsustainable for our country and our current cost structure here at Swedish is unsustainable for us," said Carter.
Adding to the financial uncertainty at Swedish, the nurses union contract talks are stalled and soon they'll be entering into mediation.
Carter says he believes a better model for future hospitals is smaller clinics with more preventative medicine.
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