Helen Keller Hospital and Red Bay Hospital, based in Sheffield, Ala., are reducing scheduled hours or eliminating staff positions, in a move that will affect 22 staff members.
In a statement, the hospitals' CEO Paul Storey noted that that though "we hear and read about the issues of healthcare in Washington and Montgomery, unfortunately, the greatest impact of these issues is always local." Mr. Storey attributed the cuts to the "economic challenge of rising costs and uncertain reimbursement."
The hospitals together include 1,000 workers, according to a report by The Huntsville Times/The Birmingham Times. The hospitals are a part of the Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System.
Mr. Storey does not expect any further staffing actions to be taken. He also noted that "none of these changes will diminish our ability to provide quality care."