Every CommonSpirit Health associate, up to the director level, and employed providers will receive a $500 appreciation bonus if they are fully vaccinated by August 13, 2021.
The bonuses will be paid in two installments; first, to immediately award (in mid-July) those who are already fully vaccinated, and then a second installment to allow associates and providers who have not been vaccinated 30 days (for the first dose) to make a personal vaccination decision.
CommonSpirit has 21,000 caregivers across Colorado, Utah and western Kansas, and about 70 percent of them have received the vaccine. The highest vaccination rates are amongst physicians, advanced practice providers, registered nurses, and leadership. Like other health systems and communities, CommonSpirit is seeing lower vaccination rates related to younger age, lesser education, and in communities of color.
“I am incredibly thankful for the service of our 21,000 caregivers in caring for those in need during the pandemic, especially when our communities needed us the most,” CommonSpirit Health President & CEO Peter D. Banko said. “This bonus is our appreciation for those caregivers and their commitment to our communities, our healing ministry, and their co-workers.”
During the third surge in late 2020, CommonSpirit had more than 700 co-workers out of work with coronavirus. Today, there are 40 caregivers who have a high-risk exposure or who have tested positive for the virus (all not vaccinated). More than 100 co-workers have been hospitalized with the virus, some still experience lasting effects on their health and well-being from COVID-19, and three caregivers have passed away from community-acquired COVID-19 (one after vaccines were widely available).
“We owe it to our caregivers to ensure their continued health, safety, and well-being,” Banko said of the appreciation bonus. “This is a $7 million investment in our people. If we protect just one more co-worker from the virus and its impact, it will be the best investment we have ever made.”
