The following hospital and health system layoffs were reported by Becker's Hospital Review so far in August. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Kindred plans to close Texas long-term care hospital
Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare told the Texas Workforce Commission it plans to close its transitional care hospital in Baytown, Texas, according to the Houston Business Journal. Kindred said it is closing Kindred Hospital Baytown to consolidate services between its other Houston-area facilities, including Kindred Hospital Bay Area in Pasadena, Texas. Kindred told the Texas Workforce Commission the closure will affect 37 jobs, according to the Houston Business Journal.
2. Baystate Health System to lay off 300 employees
Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health will lay off roughly 300 people as a result of a projected $75 million budget shortfall, according to the Boston Business Journal. The reduction, which will eliminate approximately $40 million in expenses, represents 2.4 percent of Baystate's 12,500-person workforce, according to the report.
3. NY hospital cuts 22 nursing jobs
Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y., cut 22 full- and part-time positions for licensed practical nurses as part of a new staffing model, according to a Times Union report. That new model, also used at Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Hospital, employs registered nurses and aides, but not LPNs, Norman Dascher, CEO of Samaritan and St. Mary's hospitals in Troy, told the Times Union.
4. Ascension Wisconsin job cuts unknown following Wheaton Franciscan acquisition
Ascension Wisconsin continues to integrate corporate and operating structures of four health systems following its acquisition of Glendale, Wis.-based Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, according to a Milwaukee Business Journal report. But the number of jobs affected by these efforts has yet to be disclosed. Ascension Wisconsin, part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, acquired Wheaton's Southeast Wisconsin operations and related corporate offices last March. Ascension Health also owns Milwaukee-based Columbia St. Mary's and Ministry Health Care, and Affinity Health System in Appleton, Wis.
Vince Gallucci, chief marketing and communications officer for Ascension Wisconsin, acknowledged to the Milwaukee Business Journal that Ascension Wisconsin has been consolidating and streamlining its organization in recent months. Employees have already reported layoffs at the former Wheaton corporate office in Glendale, Wheaton hospitals and the Columbia St. Mary's headquarters, according to the report. They claim the job cuts have been in front office and clinical positions.
5. Sonoma West Medical Center cuts 25 jobs amid revenue cycle overhaul
Sebastopol, Calif.-based Sonoma West Medical Center laid off 16 percent of its administrative staff, affecting 25 jobs, according to The North Bay Business Journal. The layoffs, which are expected to save Sonoma West $200,000 a month, came about three weeks after the hospital signed an agreement for Pipeline Health to manage its operations.