Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth will cut 271 positions in Oregon, up from the 186 it initially anticipated, reports The Register-Guard.
The job cuts are part of PeaceHealth's previously announced lab contract with Madison, N.J.-based Quest Diagnostics. Under the Feb. 15 deal, Quest will assume management responsibilities for labs serving PeaceHealth hospitals in Washington state, Alaska and Oregon, which PeaceHealth will still own, according to the report. Officials said roughly 186 workers in Oregon and 142 workers in Washington state would be affected, according to the previously announced contract.
PeaceHealth spokeswoman Sarah Ness told The Register-Guard an additional 85 jobs, including lab assistants and medical technologists, are now slated to be cut in Oregon by May 28, bringing the combined total number of anticipated job cuts to 413. Ms. Ness also said Quest has agreed to purchase PeaceHealth's nonhospital lab business, which includes labs in the Oregon communities of Eugene and Springfield, according to the report.
The job cuts will primarily affect employees at PeaceHealth Labs' headquarters in Springfield, Ore., according to the report.
Quest officials said the company plans to hire 275 employees in Oregon and Washington state as part of the deal.
"These [85 additional] individuals are encouraged to apply for different roles with PeaceHealth or Quest and, if qualified, will be given priority in the interview scheduling process. We are committed to providing the highest possible level of respect, assistance and support services to assist caregivers in this transition," Ms. Ness said, according to The Register-Guard.