Baystate Health management this week provided further insight into recent layoffs at the Springfield, Mass.-based system, including where the cuts were made and their impact, according to a report on MassLive.com.
Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and Baystate Health's senior vice president for hospital operations, recently broke down the cuts.
According to information she provided in the report, 95 unfilled jobs were eliminated, while 123 Baystate employees took a voluntary buyout. Additionally, 105 Baystate employees were laid off.
Of the 323 total jobs cut, 22 percent were in management, and four physician jobs were eliminated, Ms. Shendell-Falik said. Front-line bedside nurse jobs were not eliminated, though some nurses who were working in management positions did lose their jobs.
In August, Baystate announced it would cut jobs as a result of a projected $75 million budget shortfall, partly caused by lower Medicaid reimbursement.
According to MassLive.com, Baystate management will also eliminate a senior van service at Westfield, Mass.-based Baystate Noble Hospital by the end of October, relying on community services to fill the gaps.
The report states that Baystate is also considering sending certain specialized and infrequently performed lab tests, including prenatal genetic work, out to Mayo Medical Laboratories, part of Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.
Additionally, Baystate management said in the report, the system next month plans to start outsourcing its food service, housekeeping and in-hospital patient transport functions to contractor CompassOne Healthcare of Wayne, Pa.
As far as the future, Ms. Shendell-Falik said Baystate hopes changes in the state and federal budgets will help the system close its budget gaps, according to the report.
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