Henrico Doctors’ Hospital at 1602 Skipwith Road. Contractor Sodexo is planning to lay off employees at the hospital as HCA assumes control of food and nutrition services there and at its other Virginia hospitals. (BizSense file)
A major food services contractor is laying off local employees as its six-year relationship with one of the region’s biggest health systems comes to a close.
HCA is ending its contract with Sodexo for dining and nutrition services at the health system’s Virginia-based hospitals. Those services are being brought in house to be handled by HCA employees.
The transition is expected to be completed across the state by the end of April, and is being pursued because the health system wants more control over the patient experience at its hospitals, according to HCA spokeswoman Pryor Green. Sodexo has provided dining and nutrition services at HCA’s Virginia hospitals since October 2017.
“By bringing these services in house, HCA Virginia will be able to better manage the hospital experience for our patients,” Green said in an email.
As a result, more than 100 Sodexo workers stationed at Henrico Doctors’ and Chippenham hospitals are slated to be laid off on or about April 14, according to a notice Sodexo filed last month with the state. In the letter, Sodexo noted HCA’s desire to bring food services under its own banner drove the impending layoffs.
Affected employees include dietitian nutritionists, cooks, cashiers, managers and chefs.
There are approximately 400 Sodexo employees at HCA’s hospitals across Virginia, Green said.
It was unclear whether Sodexo will lay off all those employees as its HCA partnership comes to an end. Green said that the health system is extending employment offers to Sodexo staff at HCA’s hospitals in Virginia.
Sodexo didn’t respond to a request for comment. The French company provides food service, facility management and other services to businesses in about 50 countries, according to its website.
HCA’s local hospitals consist of Retreat Doctors’ Hospital in the Fan, Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital in Chesterfield and Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and Parham Doctors’ Hospital in Henrico.
Nashville-based HCA also operates TriCities Hospital in Hopewell, as well as four hospitals in Northern Virginia and four hospitals in southwest Virginia.
As of this week Sodexo had only communicated its layoff plans to the state employment commission for Henrico Doctors’ and Chippenham.
Green said that HCA, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in multiple states, utilizes a mixture of in-house and vendor-provided food and nutrition services throughout its markets.
HCA is also eyeing expansion in Hanover County. It recently filed for state regulatory approval to facilitate the construction of an outpatient surgical center at 10054 Sliding Hill Road, a site near Ashland where last year HCA failed to secure approval for a new hospital.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital at 1602 Skipwith Road. Contractor Sodexo is planning to lay off employees at the hospital as HCA assumes control of food and nutrition services there and at its other Virginia hospitals. (BizSense file)
A major food services contractor is laying off local employees as its six-year relationship with one of the region’s biggest health systems comes to a close.
HCA is ending its contract with Sodexo for dining and nutrition services at the health system’s Virginia-based hospitals. Those services are being brought in house to be handled by HCA employees.
The transition is expected to be completed across the state by the end of April, and is being pursued because the health system wants more control over the patient experience at its hospitals, according to HCA spokeswoman Pryor Green. Sodexo has provided dining and nutrition services at HCA’s Virginia hospitals since October 2017.
“By bringing these services in house, HCA Virginia will be able to better manage the hospital experience for our patients,” Green said in an email.
As a result, more than 100 Sodexo workers stationed at Henrico Doctors’ and Chippenham hospitals are slated to be laid off on or about April 14, according to a notice Sodexo filed last month with the state. In the letter, Sodexo noted HCA’s desire to bring food services under its own banner drove the impending layoffs.
Affected employees include dietitian nutritionists, cooks, cashiers, managers and chefs.
There are approximately 400 Sodexo employees at HCA’s hospitals across Virginia, Green said.
It was unclear whether Sodexo will lay off all those employees as its HCA partnership comes to an end. Green said that the health system is extending employment offers to Sodexo staff at HCA’s hospitals in Virginia.
Sodexo didn’t respond to a request for comment. The French company provides food service, facility management and other services to businesses in about 50 countries, according to its website.
HCA’s local hospitals consist of Retreat Doctors’ Hospital in the Fan, Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital in Chesterfield and Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and Parham Doctors’ Hospital in Henrico.
Nashville-based HCA also operates TriCities Hospital in Hopewell, as well as four hospitals in Northern Virginia and four hospitals in southwest Virginia.
As of this week Sodexo had only communicated its layoff plans to the state employment commission for Henrico Doctors’ and Chippenham.
Green said that HCA, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in multiple states, utilizes a mixture of in-house and vendor-provided food and nutrition services throughout its markets.
HCA is also eyeing expansion in Hanover County. It recently filed for state regulatory approval to facilitate the construction of an outpatient surgical center at 10054 Sliding Hill Road, a site near Ashland where last year HCA failed to secure approval for a new hospital.