Sharon Regional laying off equivalent of 87 full-time workers in various jobs

Staff report

SHARON, PA.

Sharon Regional Health System is laying off the equivalent of 87 full-time employees in administrative, technical, clerical and support positions.

According to 21-WFMJ TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, a statement by the hospital Wednesday does not reveal the exact number of employees losing their jobs, nor when the layoffs will occur. It says the reduction in force includes a limited number of clinical or direct-care positions.

The employee cuts are the result of declining revenues caused by diminishing in-patient volumes in recent years, according to Ed Newmeyer, director of marketing and communications.

Newmeyer said a six-month review that included how patients use Sharon Regional services, the amount of reimbursements received and community demographics revealed the declining in-patient volumes.

Hospital officials say that the system is being paid less, so changes are being made to operate more efficiently, reduce costs and provide what the facility deems the most-needed services, Newmeyer said.

He said in his news release that Sharon Regional employs an equivalent of more than 1,100 full-time workers.

“We remain focused on caring for our patients with safe, quality care and a personalized experience,” said Newmeyer.

In April, Sharon Regional Medical Center, at the time a nonprofit organization, was acquired by subsidiaries of Community Health Systems Inc. The acquisition included the 251-bed Sharon Regional Medical Center, outpatient centers and affiliated physician practices.

Community Health Systems is the same for-profit company that operates the formerly nonprofit Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland.