50 job cuts announced at Sparks Health System
by March 31, 2011 6:54 pm 64 views
Sparks Health System announced Thursday (Mar. 30) a restructuring plan that will see the elimination of 50 non-clinical jobs.
The move resulted in a 2.5% reduction in jobs, with the hospital now employing 1,900, including 90 physicians. Many of the job cuts are in engineering, information technology and other non-medical areas.
“Today Sparks Health System implemented a restructuring plan that has resulted in the elimination of a small number of Associate positions,” Sparks CEO Melody Trimble said in a statement. “As difficult as this decision was, I stand firmly behind it, knowing that it is the right thing to do for Sparks. The restructuring will not affect direct patient care, but it will allow us to improve our operational effectiveness and efficiency.”
The hospital, owned by Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates, has about 100 jobs openings for positions related directly to health care. Those holding one of the 50 jobs cut will be considered first for the open jobs if they qualify.
“We are grateful for the service and dedication of the Associates who were directly impacted by this decision. Our Human Resources department is already helping many of them explore other opportunities within our health system,” Trimble said.
After those affected were personally notified, Trimble held a “town hall” style meeting Thursday to explain the move and to answer questions.
“Providing compassionate quality care to our patients is my number one priority. Our plans now and in the future will always support those efforts,” Trimble noted in the statement.
HMA purchased Sparks Health System in a $138-million deal that closed Nov. 30, 2009. The company operates 59 hospitals — including Summit Medical in Van Buren — in 15 states and employs about 32,000. The publicly held (NYSE: HMA) hospital company is directly and indirectly affiliated with 10,000 physicians.