Weirton Medical Center Saves $2 Million Through 36 Layoffs
By SHELLEY HANSON And PAUL GIANNAMOREWEIRTON - Weirton Medical Center is reducing its work force, a move expected to save the hospital $2 million a year.
The exact number of layoffs is unknown, but WMC officials said the equivalent is 36 full-time employees.
Officials at Wheeling Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling and at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry said Wednesday that there are no plans to lay off employees at their facilities. However, they cited other measures being used to monitor their bottom lines.
Weirton Medical Center's cuts will occur during the next six months and include union, non-union and management positions in various departments. Dr. Joseph Endrich, president and chief executive officer, said a five-month operational review was conducted to identify areas where patient care could be provided more efficiently at a lower cost.
"The operations, including staffing levels, of every department were compared to over 400 similar hospitals across the country. Our review identified $2 million in savings that could be achieved without sacrificing services or quality of care," Endrich said. "The efficiencies that will result from this review will not only improve our financial performance but will position the Weirton Medical Center for continued growth in the next few years."
Endrich added, "While we regret that employees' jobs have been affected by the work force reduction, we believe it is a prudent and necessary measure in today's competitive health care environment."
WMC spokesman Kevin Brown said the review began before the nation's economy soured in the fall.
"It's more along the lines of responsible fiscal management at this point, though the impact of the financial markets and the stock market downturn does have more impact today on the medical center," Brown said.
WMC had 1,090 employees prior to the job cuts.
Maggie Espina, spokeswoman for EORH in Martins Ferry and OVMC in Wheeling, said both hospitals have been tightening their belts, but there are no plans for layoffs.
"We are always hiring in clinical areas. We look at non-clinical areas or ancillary services and areas where we can cut - when a position becomes available we look to determine if it's necessary to have the position," Espina said.
To help control finances, she said, the hospitals offer some departments, such as nursing, casual-status employment, which involves a worker receiving a higher wage if they forgo receiving benefits.
Wheeling Hospital officials said their plans to weather the faltering economy include increasing its revenues. For example, its Pediatrics Center was created last September to expand children's services.
"Like other industries, health care is not immune from the current U.S. economic crisis. We are doing everything we can to operate more efficiently. However, Wheeling Hospital's current effort to do so does not include layoffs, temporary or permanent," said Scott McKeets, chief operating officer.
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kaiserhund
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01-08-09 7:49 PM
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It's the 1930's all over again.
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GETACLUE
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01-08-09 12:59 PM
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OVMC is having problems making payroll and their employee pensions are in for another re-working.
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