Altru Takes Necessary Steps To Sustain Operations in Response to COVID-19

Grand Forks, ND – Altru Health System announces decisions to sustain operations amidst revenue loss due to COVID-19. With a focus on the safety of its patients, staff, and community during this pandemic, Altru has made significant changes to its operations, including reducing most scheduled surgeries and adjusting clinic operations to ensure safe care environments for patients. With these changes and the greater impact of COVID-19, Altru could face a loss of $65 million this year.

“While we have already taken several steps to combat the loss in revenue caused by COVID-19, such as pausing our hospital construction, placing a hiring freeze, and applying for grants and loans, we must take additional actions to offset the impact on our organization,” shared Dr. Steven Weiser, President of Altru Health System.

These changes include a reduction in pay for all leaders, including physician leadership and all levels of management, with executives taking a 30% compensation reduction through 2020. Additionally, leaders across Altru will be assessing volumes and aligning staff as necessary to serve patient needs. Approximately 10-15% of Altru’s total staffing hours will be reduced through SRA (System Required Absence) and furlough, practices that provide an opportunity for staff to maintain benefits and return to work when volumes increase.

“These decisions are difficult but necessary,” expressed Dr. Weiser. “This is an incredibly uncertain time and we must act in the best interest of our health system, our patients, and our employees. As the community health system in our region, Altru has the responsibility to care for the residents we serve. These decisions help ensure Altru will continue to provide safe, high-quality care to our region for generations to come.”

About Altru Health System

Rated the number one hospital in North Dakota in 2019 by U.S. News and World Report, Altru Health System is now in its second century of serving the communities of northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Altru Health System is a physician-led, multispecialty group practice with an acute care hospital, Level II trauma center, specialty hospital, more than two dozen Grand Forks, and regional practice locations, and a large home care network. As the region’s largest private employer, Altru Health System employs more than 300 physicians and advanced practice providers and 3,800 staff. Altru Health System was the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, extending Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to the patients we serve. For more information, visit altru.org.