PITTSBURGH — The West Penn Allegheny Health System announced a workforce reduction Friday that will affect 262 active employees, as well as eliminate 200 vacant positions.
The Allegheny Health Network said positions affected by the action span every level of the workforce, but relatively few are related to direct patient care.
However, workers and patients said they are still worried the elimination of these positions could have a negative effect on hospital services.
"My main concern is not being taken care of properly and not having the proper staff to do so," said Marie Owens, a visitor at West Penn.
West Penn Allegheny Health System Director of Media Relations Dan Laurent gave a statement on Friday regarding the layoffs.
"Today's workforce reduction is a difficult but essential step in our efforts to right-size the organization for the patient volume we currently have and to strongly position the Allegheny Health Network for future growth as a leading health care provider in the region," Laurent said. "As stewards of this vital charitable healthcare organization, it is imperative that we make it a sustainable resource for the people of this community over the long term."
Laurent said that no other significant reductions in the AHN workforce are currently planned.
West Penn Allegheny will continue to employ about 10,000 people, and the Allegheny Health Network, as a whole, employs nearly 17,000 people.
Earlier this week, Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported that three top executives within the West Penn Allegheny Hospitals were let go as part of the effort to cut costs.
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