Allegheny Health Network (AHN), a health network of 14 hospitals and more than 200 primary- and specialty-care practices, recently announced it will invest more than $92 million this year in its workforce.
The company employs more than 21,000 in the greater western Pennsylvania region.
“Rewarding and retaining our valued employees and attracting others to join the team through competitive wages and benefits, and an unsurpassed culture of employee engagement, opportunity, and respect, is our top priority,” AHN President and CEO Cynthia Hundorfean said.
The company acknowledges the challenges posed to health care workers due to the pandemic. It plans to provide loan or tuition forgiveness for its West Penn School of Nursing and Citizens School of Nursing’s May 2022 graduates in exchange for a three-year commitment to work as a direct care/bedside nurse in the network; lifestyle and career development programs to further improve the work-life experience and professional growth; and increase salaries.
The company will increase the minimum starting salary rate for all AHN employees from the current $15 an hour. It will increase the minimum base salary rate for bedside registered nurses to $30 per hour.
The investments do not apply to AHN bargaining unit team members.