Citing financial struggles, Greenville, N.C.-based Vidant Health has laid off 191 employees, reports WCTI-TV.
CEO Michael Waldrum, MD, said the health system faced a budget shortfall in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 due to decreasing reimbursements, the lack of Medicaid expansion and other factors, the station reported.
The shortfall occurred despite high patient volumes, Dr. Waldrum said.
Vidant Health has begun a financial performance improvement process, the CEO said. This includes ending recruitment for some positions, but even with those changes, layoffs were also necessary, Dr. Waldrum said.
"Saying goodbye to team members who we have worked alongside and care about is not easy," he said. "I deeply value the contributions made by everyone on the Vidant team, and we will do everything we can to support those impacted by this reduction."
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