Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth plans to eliminate 500 jobs throughout its system through layoffs, attrition and reduced hours, according to a report by The Columbian.
Most (340) of the jobs being cut will be from two hospitals in southwest Washington State: Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver and St. John Medical Center in Longview. Of the 340 positions being eliminated from the two hospitals, 177 will be lost through layoffs, according to the report.
The job eliminations will help the system meet its goal of cutting its budget by more than $130 million, according to the report. Several factors, including reimbursement reductions and "flat" patient volumes, contributed to the necessity of the cuts. Additionally, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente recently canceled its contract with PeaceHealth to provide emergency and obstetrics care at Southwest Medical Center, which is a major financial hit for PeaceHealth, according to The Columbian.
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