Seattle-based Swedish Health Services is eliminating about 550 jobs, which represents about 4 percent of the health system's 13,500-person workforce, according to The Seattle Times.
The job cuts are part of the system's ongoing reorganization plan. In a memo to employees, Swedish Health CEO Guy Hudson, MD, said the system is cutting jobs and making other changes to shift to a "more cost-effective model of care" that involves investing more in outpatient care and focusing less on hospital care, according to the report.
Swedish Health declined to say which positions or programs would be affected by the job cuts. The system intends to inform employees by Sept. 14.
Although the system is scaling back its workforce in some areas, Swedish Health plans to add new staff to support other service lines, including adding physician assistants and registered nurse practitioners to some of its primary care clinics.
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