Bennington, Vermont News
UVM Health Reduces Workforce by 142 Positions, Impacting Local Care
The cuts, which include nurses, lab techs and administrative staff, come as the hospital network faces an expected $300 million budget deficit and increasing pressure to cut costs. Read the story on VTDigger here: UVM Health cuts 142 jobs —…
Key points
- UVM Health has cut 142 jobs to save approximately $9.5 million annually.
- The majority of cuts are in administrative roles, impacting local facilities.
- Healthcare advocates express concerns about the impact on patient care.
MONTPELIER, Vt. NewsWK — The recent decision by UVM Health to cut 142 jobs is significant for our local healthcare landscape in Bennington and surrounding areas. This reduction, which affects both Vermont and New York facilities, is expected to save the organization approximately $9.5 million annually.
Details of the Job Cuts
On Tuesday, UVM Health announced the elimination of 76 positions, with an additional 66 roles being restructured and reposted with new job descriptions. These cuts largely target administrative roles, according to hospital representatives.
In particular, the UVM Medical Center in Burlington will see a substantial impact, with about one-third of the positions cut being unionized roles, including laboratory technicians and patient support specialists. Additionally, Porter Medical Center in Middlebury has lost four full-time nursing positions—three in primary care and one in obstetrics and gynecology.
Reasons Behind the Cuts
These staffing adjustments are part of a broader strategy to respond to shifts in patient demand. Annie Mackin, UVM Health’s press relations manager, indicated that these changes could lead to delays in some non-clinical support processes.
UVM Health is under pressure to reduce costs, following a recommendation from an independent liaison for a $100 million annual cut over three years. “UVM Health really needs to urgently address its financial and productivity issues,” stated Mike Smith, the liaison group leader. He emphasized the importance of targeting administrative expenses first and collaborating with other hospitals to minimize disruption.
Statements from Leadership
Dr. Steve Leffler, the CEO and President of UVM Health, acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, stating, “These are extremely difficult decisions because of their impact on our valued colleagues. We must make these hard choices to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care that is accessible and more affordable for the communities we serve.”
These recent cuts follow a series of administrative layoffs last summer and a restructuring of the leadership team. Local healthcare advocates are concerned, with Emma Galvin from AFT Vermont expressing that “UVM Health cannot balance its budget on the backs of healthcare workers. Cutting positions that support patient care is an irresponsible decision for our community.”
What Lies Ahead
As these job cuts take effect, local residents and healthcare workers will be watching closely to see how these changes impact patient care and the overall stability of healthcare services in Bennington and beyond.
Based on reporting originally published by VTDigger. Read the original story.
