Rhode Island Hospital in Providence is eliminating nearly 200 positions and shutting down an early intervention program for developmentally disabled children, according to a report from The Providence Journal.
Here are six things to know about the cuts.
1. The hospital cites a looming deficit as the reason behind the cuts. "Rhode Island Hospital faces costs that are rising faster than reimbursement rates and other revenue sources," hospital officials said in a statement, according to the report. "The hospital expects a significant deficit this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The jobs reduction will result in significant savings in overtime and other contracted services expenses, with savings equivalent to approximately 100 full-time positions."
2. Rhode Island Hospital plans to notify the full-time and part-time employees, including managers and staff-level positions, that their jobs are being eliminated.
3. The hospital said it expects most of those affected will be able to find jobs within the Providence-based Lifespan health system, of which Rhode Island Hospital is a part.
4. Some of the positions being eliminated were already vacant in anticipation of the need to reduce the workforce, according to The Providence Journal.
5. Seventeen positions will be lost from shutting down an early intervention program of Providence-based Hasbro Children's Hospital, The program, part of Rhode Island Hospital's Children's Neurodevelopment Center since 2000, provides services to children up to 3 years old who have, or who are at risk for, developmental problems. Hospital officials said revenues for the program have declined in recent years, according to the report.
6. Margaret Van Bree, DrPH, president of Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's Hospital, said the early intervention staff will work with the state to help families find alternative programs, according to the report. The hospital currently works with 300 families.
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