Here is a list of 10 hospitals and health systems that recently cut jobs as a result of varying financial difficulties, ordered by number of positions cut.
1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center – 300 jobs. Trustees for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., approved cutting 300 jobs over the next year to close a $50 million budget gap, according to a New Hampshire Union Leader report. The hospital board reported that between not filling vacancies and the natural attrition rate of 500 employees per year, Dartmouth-Hitchcock should be able to cut all 300 positions without resorting to layoffs.
2. El Camino Hospital – 140 jobs. El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., announced plans in August to lay off 140 workers due to an increase in nonpaying patients, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Representatives from the hospital union said in September the hospital doesn't need to lay off workers, considering El Camino reported a $36 million profit for the fiscal year ending in June.
3. Boston Medical Center – 119 jobs. Boston Medical Center announced in September it planned to cut 119 positions to reverse a projected $175 million loss, according to a Boston Globe report. The hospital said without additional funding, Boston Medical Center would run out of cash reserves by next fall.
4. Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital – up to 100 jobs. Yakima (Wash.) Valley Memorial Hospital announced in September it plans to eliminate 70-100 jobs in its hospital and clinics by late January, according to a Yakima Herald report. The layoffs represent 4 percent of the 2,600 person work force. The hospital will also freeze salaries and slash its capital budget — which averaged around $17.5 million over the past few years — by half.
5. Richmond State Hospital – 100 jobs. Richmond (Ind.) State Hospital announced in July plans to cut more than 100 jobs by March 2011, according to a WHIOTV report. The cuts are part of a plan to reduce patient capacity at the hospital and are expected to save the state of Indiana $15 million. The layoffs will impact a variety of positions.
6. Children's Hospital and Health System – 59 jobs. Children's Hospital and Health System in Brookfield, Wis., reduced its workforce by 59 people in September, according to a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel report. The job cuts are projected to save more than $8 million a year in a year when the healthcare system's operating income could drop by about a third.
7. East Jefferson General Hospital – 50 jobs. East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., cut 50 managerial, administrative and clerical positions at the end of September, according to a WWLTV report. Hospital officials said all the positions were outside of direct patient care and were due to Medicare and Medicaid cuts, as well as a lack of service block grant money.
8. Lenoir Memorial Hospital – 38 jobs. Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, N.C., cut 38 positions in September to fix a budget deficit of $2 million for July and August, according to an ENC Today report. The plan to cut expenses, brought about by a 15 percent drop in admissions over the last five years, calls for $5 million in budget cuts.
9. Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center – 20 jobs. Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev., announced the elimination of 20 positions throughout the hospital, primarily affecting administrative support and management areas, according to a KOLOTV report. A hospital spokesperson said the hospital has experienced decreased volume and financial difficulties due to the economic downturn.
10. Pen Bay Healthcare – 19 jobs. Pen Bay Healthcare in Rockland, Maine, announced in September it would eliminate 19 positions, including three management positions and four vacant positions, according to an MPBN report. The job cuts are due to unpaid MaineCare reimbursements, reductions in volume and decreased emergency department visits.
1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center – 300 jobs. Trustees for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., approved cutting 300 jobs over the next year to close a $50 million budget gap, according to a New Hampshire Union Leader report. The hospital board reported that between not filling vacancies and the natural attrition rate of 500 employees per year, Dartmouth-Hitchcock should be able to cut all 300 positions without resorting to layoffs.
2. El Camino Hospital – 140 jobs. El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., announced plans in August to lay off 140 workers due to an increase in nonpaying patients, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Representatives from the hospital union said in September the hospital doesn't need to lay off workers, considering El Camino reported a $36 million profit for the fiscal year ending in June.
3. Boston Medical Center – 119 jobs. Boston Medical Center announced in September it planned to cut 119 positions to reverse a projected $175 million loss, according to a Boston Globe report. The hospital said without additional funding, Boston Medical Center would run out of cash reserves by next fall.
4. Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital – up to 100 jobs. Yakima (Wash.) Valley Memorial Hospital announced in September it plans to eliminate 70-100 jobs in its hospital and clinics by late January, according to a Yakima Herald report. The layoffs represent 4 percent of the 2,600 person work force. The hospital will also freeze salaries and slash its capital budget — which averaged around $17.5 million over the past few years — by half.
5. Richmond State Hospital – 100 jobs. Richmond (Ind.) State Hospital announced in July plans to cut more than 100 jobs by March 2011, according to a WHIOTV report. The cuts are part of a plan to reduce patient capacity at the hospital and are expected to save the state of Indiana $15 million. The layoffs will impact a variety of positions.
6. Children's Hospital and Health System – 59 jobs. Children's Hospital and Health System in Brookfield, Wis., reduced its workforce by 59 people in September, according to a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel report. The job cuts are projected to save more than $8 million a year in a year when the healthcare system's operating income could drop by about a third.
7. East Jefferson General Hospital – 50 jobs. East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., cut 50 managerial, administrative and clerical positions at the end of September, according to a WWLTV report. Hospital officials said all the positions were outside of direct patient care and were due to Medicare and Medicaid cuts, as well as a lack of service block grant money.
8. Lenoir Memorial Hospital – 38 jobs. Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, N.C., cut 38 positions in September to fix a budget deficit of $2 million for July and August, according to an ENC Today report. The plan to cut expenses, brought about by a 15 percent drop in admissions over the last five years, calls for $5 million in budget cuts.
9. Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center – 20 jobs. Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev., announced the elimination of 20 positions throughout the hospital, primarily affecting administrative support and management areas, according to a KOLOTV report. A hospital spokesperson said the hospital has experienced decreased volume and financial difficulties due to the economic downturn.
10. Pen Bay Healthcare – 19 jobs. Pen Bay Healthcare in Rockland, Maine, announced in September it would eliminate 19 positions, including three management positions and four vacant positions, according to an MPBN report. The job cuts are due to unpaid MaineCare reimbursements, reductions in volume and decreased emergency department visits.