For now, nurses pay takes precedence over expansion project

Prisma Health has done some budget re-prioritizing and, for now, it affects the timetable for the long-talked about project to triple the size of the Oconee Memorial emergency department. The re-prioritized budgeting will award pay raises for nurses and others in support positions. Here is Prisma Health’s statement, as released to 101.7/WGOG NEWS: “Everything we do at Prisma Health starts with the more than 32,000 team members who spend every day caring for our communities. As our senior leadership team evaluated the fiscal year’s budget and to help position the organization for the future. President and CEO Mark O’Halla recognized that Prisma Health was behind the market in offering many team members competitive pay. He took immediate action and put in place a plan to bring rates up to market. Front-line team members such as nurses and support positions were the initial focus, resulting in more than 75% of our team members receiving pay adjustments. Our goal is to address all team members’ pay that is behind market by the end of the current fiscal year….To clear the path for this budget reprioritizing, expansion of the Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital Emergency Department will be held for this fiscal year.”