Hospital reduces workforce

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Though St. Joseph’s Hospital announced that about six people were laid off Friday, patient care will not be affected, according to a press release.

No clinical positions were lost, however, employees from accounting, marketing, nutritional services, admitting and the purchasing department were, and the hospital is also implementing job sharing, said Dennis Cannon, director of marketing. The facility had openings it will not be able to fill and downsized through attrition, he added.

“The good thing is there are not a lot of employees affected,” he said. “The bad thing is one is more than we like.”

Employees who were let go will receive separation packages, and Cannon said, there are open positions at the hospital. Those let go are encouraged to apply and will be given first consideration.

“We wish there was another way,” said Carolyn Riley, CEO and president. “We know our people are the reason for our success at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and we will support all of our employees in adjusting to these changes.”

Cannon said before the change, there were 297 full-time employees, which included multiple part-timers.

In the summer, about the same number as Friday were laid off, Cannon said.

Financially the hospital is on an upswing. Cannon said it is the first time since 1999 the hospital is making money. The hospital was expected to lose $1 million by this point, but seven months into the fiscal year it is in the black, he said.

“We’ve been here for 97 years and we are trying to lay a track to be here for another 97,” he said.

In addition to workforce reduction, St. Joseph’s is reducing expenses by managing supply expenses, restricting travel, and replacing only positions critical to patient care, according to the press release.

The hospital plans to convert to a critical access facility in the spring. The move is expected to bring along an estimated $1.8 million in revenue with improved Medicare reimbursement, according to the release.

“We remain confident in our future and are committed to providing excellent care,” Riley said.

Tags: hospital, layoffs