Exeter (N.H.) Hospital is cutting its workforce through layoffs, hour reductions and elimination of open positions, according to a Seacoast Online report.
Exeter Hospital and Core Physicians, an Exeter-based affiliate of the hospital, have laid off 28 employees and cut the hours of 17 more while leaving 35 open positions vacant, according to the report. Twenty-two employees also accepted early retirement packages.
Senior management and administrative support positions were all affected by the cuts.
The workforce reduction was deemed necessary as reduced reimbursements, in addition to the state's Medicaid Enhancement Tax, led to an operating deficit of more than $15 million at Exeter Hospital, according to the report.
"We wanted to affect the smallest number of people possible, this is the last thing we wanted to do. But when you look at the combined challenges we're facing, this is what we had to do," a hospitals spokeswoman told Seacoast Online.
More Articles on Hospital Layoffs:
Cape Fear Valley Health Trims 118 Jobs
12 Recent Hospital and Health System Layoffs