TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - There is hope in the form of new job opportunities for some employees of a Panhandle hospital, who are being laid off as the result of Hurricane Michael damage.
Hurricane Michael destroyed parts of Bay Medical Sacred Heart in Panama City on October 10. The damage was so extensive the hospital's owners Ardent Health Services and Ascension Sacred Heart are now being forced to lay off 635 employees on February 4, 2019.
Following that announcement last week, Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has organized a job fair in Panama City on Wednesday to hire those who will soon be looking for work.
"We are looking for positions for folks who have an expertise in finance, in nursing, for folks who have business background or maybe just want to try something new," said Steve Capenos, Director of Human Resources at TMH.
The job fair will be from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club. There will be on-site job interviews with recruiters and clinical leaders and TMH officials say there may be some immediate positions available.
"Our hope is that we will be extending some offers tomorrow at the event with the goal of securing some offers for these folks as soon a possible," said Capenos.
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare is opening their new surgical facility, the M. T. Mustian Center, in Spring 2019 which will open up even more employment opportunities.
"We definitely have opportunities for folks to be employed directly within the MT Mustion Center but with that expansion comes the opportunity for existing service lines to grow and expand," said Capenos.
TMH officials said if you do have a resume bring it, but they understand that in the wake of Hurricane Michael for some that may be difficult.
They encourage employment seekers to come to the job fair regardless.
Officials at Ardent Health Services said Ardent Health and Ascension Sacred Heart hosted two job fairs this week.
Their goal is to assist as many impacted employees as possible to find employment in the Ascension or Ardent organizations.
But they also welcome hiring events sponsored by other healthcare employers.