Increases in hospital mass layoffs

According to this amednews.com story, we are seeing some dramatic increases in hospital mass layoffs.

• Thirteen mass layoffs occurred at hospitals in August, leading 1,085 people to claim unemployment benefits
• The BLS recorded 10 incidents in July with at least 622 people losing jobs
• In August 2010, the BLS reported 12 mass layoffs, with 1,027 lost positions

Are these mass layoffs also affecting physicians? Depending on where you live in this country, it may be very difficult for a physician to find another job without moving. As some hospitals struggle to survive, how will this impact physician employment opportunities? On a related note, how will these changes affect the clinical environment? Will physicians be more susceptible to burnout if they're expected to carry heavier patient volumes? Will we see more medical errors if hospitals are not sufficiently staffed with nurses and other clinical ancillary staff?