The Ventura County Health Care Agency, a California-based system of hospital, clinic and specialty services, said job and cost cuts in the agency will affect 271 healthcare workers, according to the Ventura County Star.
The agency said it plans to lay off 79 regular full-time employees and cut 98 positions filled by per diem and temporary employees. It also will demote 25 workers and transfer 69 workers to new roles.
Jennifer Wortham, chief deputy of strategy and growth for the agency, told the Star the cuts will affect workers at Ventura (Calif.) County Medical Center and Santa Paula (Calif.) Hospital, including nurses. They will also affect some employees in public health and agency administration.
The move comes more than a month after hospital managers said they were looking at employee layoffs to offset a projected $18.8 million loss for this fiscal year.
County officials estimated that the changes would save $13.4 million annually, according to a news release cited by the Star.
Bill Foley, director of the agency, told Ventura County's board of supervisors May 21 that the agency is trying to better align staffing levels at the healthcare facilities with industry standards.
According to the Star, Mr. Foley and Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers said the agency also is trying to grow business in the fully integrated system and ensure that its long-term viability.
The cuts are slated to take effect in July.
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