UMass Memorial cuts services, 103 full-time jobs in Worcester

UMass Memorial Health Center's Memorial Campus

Write a Comment

By Emily Micucci

UMass Memorial Health Care today announced the elimination of 103 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions at its Worcester locations in the system's latest round of layoffs, which began in March.

The layoffs, along with service cuts, were announced in a memo to employees from UMMMC CEO Patrick Muldoon, and in a statement to the media Wednesday. From October through February, the hospital has cut 285 FTE positions, according to the statement. They are part of an ongoing effort to reduce the system’s ongoing operating loss.

“Today, we are informing our employees and labor unions about the current changes. As always, employees in affected positions will be treated with respect and dignity, and we will provide the resources they need to help them through this transition,” Muldoon said in the memo.

He noted that the number of FTE positions eliminated is not equal to the number of employees losing jobs.

“The term FTEs does not directly relate to the number of people that will ultimately leave our organization because a reduction in overtime hours, position vacancies and an overall reduction in hours are included in the calculation of an FTE,” Muldoon said.

David Schildmeier, spokesman for the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union representing UMMMC nurses, said the cuts will take effect on June 15, following a 60-day waiting period. He said 81 nurses will lose their jobs as services are consolidated.

While the system is contractually obligated to maintain staffing ratios it agreed to with the nurses last year, Schildmeier said the latest round of job cuts raises concern about access to health care services in Central Massachusetts, particularly for children, as the system plans to reduce the number of beds at the Children's Medical Center.

But UMass Memorial Health Care spokesman Robert Brogna in an e-mail statement the system is "committed to providing high quality, safe, comprehensive pediatric care to the children of Central Massachusetts.

"As we streamline our operations to become more efficient, we also continue to invest in pediatric subspecialists to meet the health care needs of children in our region," Brogna wrote.

Muldoon indicated that additional layoffs have occurred or will occur at other UMass Memorial Health Care operations in Worcester, including the system’s medical group and corporate offices. Those are in addition to the 103 cuts announced UMMMC, according to spokesman Robert Brogna.

In addition to layoffs, UMMMC is scaling back services, including the following measures:

-eliminating of its IV therapy operation

-closing of three of its 17 operating rooms, and close its Memorial Campus West 1 unit

-consolidation of infusion services

-reducing the number of beds at the Children’s Medical Center

-the planned sale of a building at 11 Shattuck St.