Providence, R.I.-based Care New England has cut three top posts to reduce costs, reports The Providence Journal.
"We have communicated at great length the struggles we faced last fiscal year and the plans in place now to restore our outlook with a small but positive operating margin for fiscal year 2017. With one quarter in the books, we continue to suffer from low patient volumes and as a result are missing budget targets. In order to meet this critical operating goal, we continue to look at all aspects of cost saving, efforts to increase volume and opportunities for organizational restructuring," Dennis Keefe, CNE's president and CEO, said in a staff announcement last Friday.
Given these circumstances, Mr. Keefe said the system is eliminating the position of executive vice president and COO, filled by Sandy Coletta. He said the decision was reached following careful consideration and conversation with Ms. Coletta.
"As we discussed how best to reshape CNE for the months and years ahead, it became clear that systems of our size and scope must reduce the number of executive layers and streamline the senior management level. In fact, it was Sandy who personally recommended the elimination of her role in the true lead-by-example that defines her," he wrote. Ms. Coletta, who came to CNE in 2008 as president of Warwick, R.I.-based Kent Hospital, had her last day on Friday.
Mr. Keefe also announced the retirements of Marilyn Walsh, senior vice president and chief human resources officer; and Gail Costa, senior vice president and chief strategy officer. He said both retirements will take effect in June and the positions won't be replaced. Tish Devaney, vice president of human resources, will oversee the human resources department, while Gail Robbins, vice president of strategic financial planning, will oversee the day-to-day operations for all planning activities across CNE, he added.