Northside Medical Center Announces Staff Cutbacks
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Northside Medical Center today announced that it is reducing its staff by the equivalent of 77 full-time employees. The cutbacks involve both union and non-union personnel, the hospital said, and “impacted employees will be provided with appropriate support.”
“Our employees are valued colleagues and we deeply regret that the reductions are necessary,” said Kirk Ray, CEO of Northside Medical Center, in a statement. “Quality care for our patients remains our highest priority. These changes are being made to ensure the long-term strength of this hospital and our ability to serve this community.”
Here is the full text of Northside’s press release:
Over the past three years, Northside Medical Center has taken numerous steps to strengthen the hospital for the future. Ground-breaking for an expansion, implementing new clinical technology and investing in equipment, facilities and physician recruitment are the most recent strategies launched to support the delivery of quality care for patients.
These investments are happening at the same time hospitals and healthcare providers across the country face numerous challenges. The complexities of healthcare reform, the impact of federal budget sequestration and the expense of implementing burdensome legislative mandates are just a few of the factors driving a dramatic period of change in the industry. Northside is not immune to these changes.
Like hospitals across the country, Northside regularly adjusts staffing levels to the volume and needs of the patients in its care. Today a staff adjustment affecting 77 FTEs is being implemented affecting both union and non-union employees. Impacted employees will be provided with appropriate support.
“Our employees are valued colleagues and we deeply regret that the reductions are necessary,” said Kirk Ray, Chief Executive Officer, Northside Medical Center. “Quality care for our patients remains our highest priority. These changes are being made to ensure the long-term strength of this hospital and our ability to serve this community.”
The decisions have been carefully considered to ensure no one area of the hospital is overly impacted. Reductions affect employees represented by unions and employees who are not represented by unions.
“Hospitals across the country are experiencing challenges,” said Ray. “We are managing our day to day operations based on today’s realities while we continue our forward-looking work to support our providers in their important work of patient care.”
The basic premise of healthcare reform is increasing medical insurance coverage for more people in the community. Ohio's expansion of Medicaid will give more individuals access to the care they need. Combined with an aging population, utilization will increase and volume trends will improve over time.
SOURCE: Northside Medical Center
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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