As a cut to five percent of its workforce, Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta today announced it is eliminating 464 jobs to save $68 million. Like other hospitals across the country, layoffs may be one cost-saving measure.
The seven hospitals within the Piedmont Healthcare system--Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Physicians Group, and Piedmont Healthcare corporate division--participated in a systemwide strategic performance improvement initiative. The initiative closely examined costs associated with supplies, staffing, and other expenses as they relate to patient care, according to the healthcare system .
"All staffing changes were evaluated for potential impact on patient care and customer service. At this time, it is unknown how many people will actually leave the organization until all impacted employees are notified and are able to explore critical vacancies in the system," according to a Piedmont statement.
Of the 464 positions, 171 of those were already vacant or revised for scheduling purposes.
"Changes like these are extremely difficult and not without emotion since they impact friends and co-workers," said Piedmont Healthcare President and CEO R. Timothy Stack. "In all circumstances, our decisions are based on our responsibility to provide safe, quality care at a competitive price and to be good stewards of our resources as a community-based, not-for-profit healthcare provider."
For more:
- read the press release