Spokane hospital company cutting 130 jobs after losing $7 million

Some hospitals thrive while others are struggling....BD

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A company that owns two Spokane-area hospitals says it lost $7 million last year and must cut 130 jobs. Empire Health Services officials announced the pending layoffs Wednesday that are part of a restructuring to save more than $10 million at Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center. Empire officials say the financial problems stem from delays in selling the hospitals to Community Health Systems. The $172 million transaction is expected to be completed this summer.
About 90 of the job cuts will be among nursing assistants, raising concern that the March 1 cuts will affect patient care. But hospital officials say eliminating the positions will bring staffing levels in line with national averages.