Abby Hoover is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia Memorial Health April 21, temporarily furloughed approximately 125 employees. A message from CMH President and CEO Jay Cahalan said that while it was an action that no one wanted to take, the hospital had limited options. Employees on temporary furlough will retain their health insurance coverage and be eligible for enhanced unemployment benefits. They could be called back to work with 48 hours’ notice. With an increase in COVID-19 preparation, there has been a decrease in physician office visits, elective procedures and diagnostic testing in recent weeks, which was predicted, Cahalan said. With the elimination of elective surgeries and procedures, plus the increasing costs of personal protective equipment, an “unprecedented financial crisis for hospitals and health care organizations” was created, Cahalan said. He said although he wished there were other options, the only way the hospital could access funding benefits for the workforce was to implement temporary furloughs. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.