Texas hospital employees seek donations after facility can't make payroll

Weimar Medical Center (WMC) in Texas has been closed since Nov. 26 when it didn’t have enough money to pay its employees. Several weeks later, workers are still waiting on checks.

In comments to the Colorado County Citizen, hospital president Irving Sawyers Jr. blamed the suspension of services on a potential buyer of the facility backing out on a written agreement. Since then, its 53 employees haven’t been paid, even though Sawyers originally said he hoped to reopen by Dec. 2.

Sawyers now hopes a new deal will allow the hospital to begin accepting patients.

The purchasing deal for the new investors of the hospital is expected to be finished within the week,” Sawyers said, adding the new buyer would have to cover the outstanding payroll. “Once the buyer completes the purchasing agreement, the hospital will be re-opened as soon as we have adequate staffing.”

The 38-bed hospital opened in July 2015, taking over the former Colorado-Fayette Medical Center, which had gone bankrupt in 2012.  Its struggled with low patient volume ever since, Sawyers said, averaging less than three patients per day since May of this year.

Some employees are doubtful about Sawyers’ promises.

“I do not plan to go back to work at WMC even if it reopens,” said WMC registered nurse Savannah Berrera. “If I return at all it would be on a part time basis.”

Other employees said they filed complaints with state boards about their missing pay.

Hospital workers are now trying crowdfunding to fill the void in their bank accounts. A YouCaring.com account has been opened, asking for $52,000 for Weimar employees. So far, only $870 has been raised, despite employees making a second appeal for contributions after missing another payday period Dec. 6.

“One staff member said she has no food in her house, light bill due Monday, and had to cancel her little girl's birthday party,” the workers wrote on the crowdfunding site. “Others have car payments, rent and insurance facing us. Some have disabled spouses. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated.”