Trinity Healthcare giving ultimatum to employees, sign on to work for a private group or be out of a job

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - Doctors at four Connecticut hospitals are outraged over tactics by Trinity Healthcare.

They say if they don’t cut ties with the hospital and work for a private for-profit group, they will lose their jobs.

“I received an email notification of Trinity’s decision to terminate my employment,” said Dr. Sama Alvi, St. Francis Hospital.

After 15 years at St. Francis Hospital, Dr. Sama Alvi says she was told she had to sign an agreement to work for an outsourced private entity.

If she didn’t sign within 90 days, she would be fired.

The letter, sent January 7th, says Trinity is partnering with Vituity, a California based physician owned for profit entity.

The letter says if you don’t sign, Trinity Health, “Must terminate your employment agreement and this correspondence shall serve as a notice of such termination.”

“It’s a bad deal because it was forced upon us under duress,” said Dr. Alvi.

“This is a health care disaster. We want to put everybody on alert,” said Sen. Saud Anwar, (D), Public Health Committee Chair.

Trinity Health owns four hospitals, Saint Francis in Hartford, Saint Mary’s in Waterbury, Johnson Memorial in Stafford Springs, and Mount Sinai Rehab in Hartford.

This action could affect 120 doctors.

“This sale also comes at a time when the state of Connecticut is already going through a crisis, particularly from out of state entities putting profits over patients,” said Dr. Gagan Singh, St. Francis Hospital.

“I am worried about the potential mass exit of physicians from Saint Francis Hospital and the impact it’s going to have on the community as a whole,” said Alvi.

Channel 3 reached out to Trinity Health earlier today.

Trinity Health Of New England has partnered with Vituity, the nation’s largest physician-owned and -led medical partnership group, to manage Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine services at our Connecticut hospitals. Vituity has a long-standing history of success in improving patient care, hospital efficiency, and provider support in many states across the country.

No Trinity Health Of New England services have been “sold.” This partnership ensures the long-term sustainability of emergency and hospitalist care at our hospitals, aligning with our commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care.

We understand that transitions can be challenging, and we remain fully committed to supporting our impacted physicians and providers. Here are the facts:

-Vituity is not a private-equity company. It is a 100% physician-owned, democratic partnership. Our Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine physicians have the opportunity to join Vituity as practicing partners and equal owners.

-All impacted physicians and providers have been offered the opportunity to continue their work through Vituity.

-We are actively working with all physicians on Visa programs to ensure their immigration status remains secure.

-We are committed to protecting the physicians and providers participating in loan repayment programs and are exploring multiple solutions to ensure they remain in good standing.

-We have been working closely with our physicians and providers to address concerns, answer questions, and facilitate a smooth transition.

Our focus remains on delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve.