The University of Vermont Health Network — Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, N.Y., disclosed Monday that 32 full-time positions have been eliminated as part of a plan to improve the organization's financial stability, reports the Watertown Daily Times.
Eliminated positions include jobs across all levels of the organization, including senior leadership, according to the report. Twenty-four of the 850 hospital employees have been "directly impacted," a news release from the hospital states.
Megan Bryden, marketing and communications manager for Alice Hyde Medical Center, told the Watertown Daily Times that several of affected positions were previously vacant. Others, including part-time and per diem positions, would be reduced or cut altogether by the end of next week.
Ms. Byrden said the hospital is currently working with other UVM Network hospitals to see if some of the affected employees could find new positions.
"Any reduction of employees is not taken lightly," said Doug DiVello, president and CEO at UVM Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center. "We are a small, tight knit community, and recognize that these decisions have profound effects on people's lives. As such, we will be doing everything we can to assist the affected employees during this time, including facilitating assistance through the local career center and unemployment application assistance. Additionally, we will make every attempt to place these employees in other available positions in either our organization, or at one of our partner organizations in the UVM Health Network where possible."
The hospital has identified a need for additional cost savings of $5 million to help improve its margins. In addition to the staff reductions, the organization is working to transition to the UVM Health Network's GPO, which will help it achieve significant annual savings on pharmaceutical costs and medical supplies, according to the report. Alice Hyde also plans to refinance its debt through the UVM Health Network for added cost savings.