Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare shared plans to lay off 115 positions May 2 as part of operational and workflow changes across its Long Beach (Calif.) Medical Center and Long Beach-based Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital.
“Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital are committed to delivering high-quality patient care and ensuring the well-being of the communities they serve,” MemorialCare Vice President of Communications and Public Relations Richele Steele said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
“In line with this commitment, and in the face of the ever-evolving and challenging landscape of healthcare delivery, the hospitals are implementing operational and workflow changes to align with industry best practices and to enhance productivity and efficiency. These changes involve reductions in force, and while difficult, they are necessary to ensure that the hospitals remain sustainable and can continue to provide exceptional care to patients for many years to come.”
Ms. Steele said the reductions, which include nurses, technicians and other clinical and administrative staff, will be implemented by July 1.
Many of the reductions stem from a consolidation of certain units within the children’s hospital to align with patient census, streamlining of operations in the outpatient children’s village to improve care delivery, and the closure of a blood donor center, she added.
The layoffs, which represent roughly 2% of the total workforce across the two hospitals, follow MemorialCare’s March announcement of 60 job cuts at its Long Beach campus.
Ms. Steele said the previous layoffs were connected to “separate initiatives around the closure of outpatient pharmacies and the centralization of the medical records departments, among other reductions.” Those changes took effect in late April.
MemorialCare noted that employees affected by the most recent job reductions have been informed, and the health system is providing them with resources and support, including efforts to redeploy qualified individuals in other departments and roles on the Long Beach campus.
“The hospitals value the contributions of all staff members and are committed to treating everyone professionally and with the utmost dignity and respect,” Ms. Steele said.
Moving forward, leadership anticipates identifying “additional opportunities to streamline staffing models” at Long Beach Medical Center and the children’s and women’s hospital.
“Hospital leadership is proceeding with this work thoughtfully and transparently, and with respect and compassion for those who will be impacted,” Ms. Steele said. “The hospitals remain committed to maintaining services needed by the community and to providing high-quality care to their patients.”
The most recent layoffs come after leadership changes at the hospitals. MemorialCare confirmed that Blair Kent, CEO of Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, has taken a leave of absence. Frank Beirne was appointed interim CEO for both hospitals.