UMass Memorial cuts or reduces 99 positions

UMass Memorial Health Care said 99 positions within the medical center have either been eliminated or had their hours cut this week.

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By Emily Micucci

UMass Memorial Medical Center(UMMMC) cut all or part of 99 positions, including those in high-level roles as well as a small number of clinical staff members, a spokesman for its parent organization said today.

Robert Brogna, spokesman for UMass Memorial Health Care (UMMHC), released details of the layoffs in a statement after a source familiar with UMMHC tipped the Worcester Business Journal of the cuts. It’s the second round of layoffs at UMMMC since December, when 40 administrative employees lost their jobs.

The positions impacted this week include vice presidents, directors, managers and a small number of clinical staff, according to Brogna. He said one-third of the positions were already vacant due to a hiring freeze UMMHC implemented several months ago. The remaining two-thirds were either eliminated or reduced in hours.

“This is part of an ongoing restructuring aimed at significantly improving alignment and accountability for clinical services at UMass Memorial Medical Center. This work will continue over the coming months,” Brogna said.

The latest layoffs are part of a strategy to eliminate the hospital’s operating losses, which totaled $55 million in fiscal 2013, which ended Sept. 30. Since October, a total of 303 positions have been eliminated or reduced, Brogna said. UMMHC also announced in December it plans to sell its Palmer-based Wing Memorial Hospital to Baystate Health of Springfield.