News in brief >Posted Sept. 5, 2011.< 2011

Hospital mass layoffs inch up slightly

The number of people who lost their jobs at a hospital in a mass layoff went up slightly in July, according to the latest monthly report released on Aug. 23 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mass layoffs are defined as at least 50 people being put out of work by a single company, and 10 occurred at hospitals in July. A total of 622 of the formerly employed claimed unemployment benefits. This represents an increase from the eight incidents in June, involving at least 441 people.

But the figures are still down from the high numbers of 2009 and 2010, when the recession was at its peak. Fourteen mass layoffs occurred in July 2010, affecting at least 1,357 people. A total of 21 layoffs happened in July 2009, involving 1,716 people.

If mass layoffs continue at the current pace, 123 may occur before the end of 2011, involving at least 7,577 people who work in the hospital setting. A total of 137 mass layoffs took place in hospitals in 2010, leading to at least 10,490 job losses. Another 152 occurred in 2009, affecting more than 11,787 people.

Data from the BLS report are online (bls.gov/news.release/mmls.nr0.htm).

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HHS launches lifeline app challenge

The Dept. of Health and Human Services has launched its Lifeline Facebook App Challenge with a modified timeline. The contest, which carries a $10,000 prize, challenges developers to design an app that would harness the social networking site for disaster preparedness. Initially it was announced the challenge would take place from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15. The department later changed the time frame from Aug. 22 to Nov. 4.

The app would enable Facebook users to identify and connect online friends willing to serve as "lifelines" in times of emergency. The lifeline, who is identified on the user's Facebook page, would agree to check on that person, provide them with shelter if needed, and post updates about that person's well-being on their Facebook wall in times of emergency. The app also would prompt the development of an emergency preparedness plan that would be shared with the lifelines.

Specifications of the challenge are online (challenge.gov/challenges/220).

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