Although national healthcare job numbers are bouncing back to pre-recession levels, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, some hospitals--particularly in New Hampshire--continue to struggle financially, and are even considering layoffs.
Weighed down by a $10 million cut to Medicaid funding, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover last week announced plans to lay off 45 workers, which will save the institution $3.4 million, according to a Union Leader article. Other cost-saving measures include cutting charity care, increasing patient charges and reducing expenses.
"Right now we're still looking at everything," Wentworth-Douglass spokesperson Noreen Bieh told the Union Leader. "Everything's on the table."
Wentworth-Douglass is the third New Hampshire hospital to recently announce layoffs: Elliot Health System in Manchester and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua both previously announced workforce cuts. More recently, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon announced early retirement packages.
Reports indicate that Exeter Hospital jobs could be next on the chopping block, Exeter Patch reports.
The state faces more than $200 million in Medicaid reimbursement cuts.
For more:
- read the Union Leader article
- read the Exeter Patch article