Under "challenging times,"Guthrie Health System announces furloughs and salary cuts

Guthrie Clinic President and CEO Dr. Joseph Scopelliti announced "bittersweet" news on Friday. "The COVID-19 epidemic has forced us to make changes and make those changes at a pace that has never been seen before," Scopelliti said in a video message to staff and the public. He called the times "challenging" and that currently, Guthries five hospitals are at 50% capacity and only a small number of patients requires one of the systems 56 ventilators. Guthrie has experienced a sharp decline in revenue with the postponement of surgeries and clinic services. Scopelliti announced there would be significant changes to the expense lines for salaries, to include:

• CEO salary reduction of 30%
• Executive Vice Presidents salary cut of 20%
• Physician salary cut of 10-20%
• There would be significant furloughs
• These is an immediate suspension of hiring.

Scopellitti says furloughed employees will retain their seniority and years of service, as well as maintaining benefits.


Guthrie is a non-profit integrated health system located in north central Pennsylvania and upstate New York, serving patients from a twelve-county service area. Guthrie is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and is the first health system based in Pennsylvania and New York to join this network. Guthrie is comprised of a research institute, home care/hospice, hospitals in Sayre, Pa., Corning, N.Y., Towanda, Pa., Troy, Pa. and Cortland, N.Y., as well as a multi-specialty group practice of more than 325 physicians and 210 advanced practice providers offering 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities in Pennsylvania and New York. In addition, Guthrie offers home medical equipment and respiratory therapy products at seven convenient Med Supply Depot locations. Guthrie provides a wide range of services and programs to enhance the health and well-being of those it serves.