UCSF Health said Thursday it is laying off 200 employees systemwide, or about 1% of its workforce, amid “serious financial challenges.”

The employees affected include rehab specialists, clinical laboratory scientists and physical therapists. They are members of the Union of Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE).

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UCSF says the layoffs will help protect its ability to care for patients in the years ahead.

“Like many health systems across the country, UCSF Health has experienced rising costs of operations while facing diminished reimbursements for services,” UCSF said in a release. “While this is a difficult decision, it was necessary to maintain financial stability and continue to deliver the many vital healthcare services we provide in San Francisco and across the Bay Area.”

The UPTE issued a statement Thursday in response to the layoff notices, saying in part, “Many of these workers held critical roles that directly provided and supported patient care; positions that are already facing national shortages at a time when UC is grappling with a systemwide staffing crisis.”

The union went on to call for UCSF Health to immediately reinstate all laid-off workers.

The full statement from the UPTE:

“UCSF Health issued layoff notices to approximately 200 workers, including workers represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). Many of these workers held critical roles that directly provided and supported patient care; positions that are already facing national shortages at a time when UC is grappling with a systemwide staffing crisis.

“Among the impacted providers are rehabilitation specialists, clinical laboratory scientists (CLS), and staff research associates. These workers are all responsible for supporting the timely diagnosis and recovery of patients, minimizing the length of their hospital stay. It is estimated that 70% of medical decisions are based on clinical laboratory results.

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“Recent reporting in the San Francisco Standard highlights the potential impacts of delayed care, as a patient recently waited 52 hours in the ER for care and was eventually paralyzed by the time she saw a doctor. Unfortunately, UCSF’s average length of patient stay (ALOS) is 60% higher than the state average and increased by up to 40% between 2018 and 2023. An increased ALOS can be incredibly harmful to patients, resulting in further complications.

“‘We were already short-staffed, and layoffs mean our patients will face delays in necessary care from their providers. As a physical therapist working with patients in the neurologic and cardiopulmonary intensive care units, my patients don’t have the luxury of waiting. They are in the most acute stages of illness, injury, and recovery, often having just experienced a stroke or surgery on their brain, spine, heart, or lungs. Delays in care mean delays in recovery, and studies show that early mobility is critical to regaining function,’ said Dana Loebman, a physical therapist at UCSF who was laid off. ‘I have worked my entire career as a physical therapist at UCSF, beginning as a student here until now, where I was one of the most senior rehab staff members who also taught, trained, and mentored my colleagues. I am committed to and deeply invested in my work and my workplace. As much as my heart is broken to lose my job, I am also incredibly concerned for my patients and the care they deserve.’

“As a $10.2 billion public hospital system, UCSF Health has the resources and the obligation to retain crucial staff who are integral to delivering timely patient care. In May of this year, UCSF So far, UPTE has heard of several instances where staff were sent home mid-shift without being able to finish their tasks or hand off their patients. The lack of notice to the union or refusal to ensure that layoffs were not needlessly disruptive reflects a disregard for patient care.

“UC has failed to invest in frontline workers. In the past five years, management staff has grown by 42.5%, while the number of frontline professional and support staff increased by only 18.6%.⁷⁵ Concerns about ongoing staffing and vacancy issues have been widely acknowledged by UC leadership, with Advisor to the Regents, Jo Mackness, outlining the ongoing issue in 2022, saying “[o]ne of the areas where we save money is we haven’t spent as much money on compensation, largely because we haven’t been able to fill the vacancies across the system,” and “[t]hat is beginning to emerge as a risk factor for us, as a university, as a system.

“This trend of prioritizing investment opportunities over patients has been consistent across UC worksites. UPTE recently released a report titled Misplaced Priorities: How a Staffing Crisis at the University of California Undermines Public Health, Research, and Education which highlights how leadership decisions have prioritized capital projects over California’s students and patients. This has led to the current staffing crisis, which is being exacerbated by layoffs like those happening at UCSF Health.

“UPTE calls on UCSF Health to immediately reinstate all laid-off workers and course correct as a public institution. UC must act now to end harmful layoffs and ensure the safe staffing necessary for delivering the quality healthcare, research, and education that the Bay Area and Californians deserve.”