Breaking News: Over 200 employees at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center have been furloughed following a shutdown mandated by the state health department.
Amidst air conditioning malfunctions and a suspension of their hospital license, St. Luke’s was forced to cease all operations and care, leading to the furlough of its staff.
The furlough went into effect on Monday, Aug. 26, leaving many employees uncertain about their future.
This drastic measure was taken after numerous complaints from both current and former employees regarding the conditions of the facility and other related issues.
Steward Health Care, the parent company of St. Luke’s, issued a statement explaining the situation:
“The temporary closure of St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center by the state has resulted in the furlough of most employees. While they will not be paid, employees have the option to use paid leave/PTO. Health care coverage will continue for all employees until at least September 30, 2024. This is a challenging situation, but we are actively working towards a solution to resume operations.”
The timeline for lifting the furlough remains uncertain as Steward Health Care goes through bankruptcy proceedings and looks to sell its hospitals nationwide.
Furthermore, the company is currently under federal investigation and faces scrutiny from various government entities, including the Senate Health Committee and the Arizona Attorney General’s office.
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