Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., is restructuring its psychiatric inpatient department and services, affecting some physicians, the hospital confirmed to Becker's.
A statement from the hospital says the move "will allow us to continue the same level of imperative mental health services for this vulnerable population amid financial constraints facing health systems nationally."
As part of the new care model, Providence Sacred Heart will lay off eight psychiatric physicians, The Spokesman-Review reported Dec. 21.
Daniel Getz, DO, chief medical officer at the hospital, told the newspaper affected physicians will remain with Providence Sacred Heart through March and will be able to apply for jobs after the restructuring.
"It's a significant chunk," Dr. Getz said, according to The Spokesman-Review. "But what's important to remember is that we're adding back positions.
"A lot of what we’re doing is restructuring our current model of delivering behavioral healthcare."
The positions added back will be for all areas. The hospital also intends to hire three advanced registered nurse practitioners to serve psychiatric patients, according to Dr. Getz.
Providence Sacred Heart expects the restructuring will save between $2 million and $4 million.
The hospital is part of the 52-hospital Providence system, which has offices in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif.
Read the full report here.