Mission Hospital Cuts 35 Jobs

Soon, 13 Mission Hospital employees will be laid off and another 22 have agreed to leave voluntarily, according to Kevin Andrus, a spokesman for Saint Joseph Health System.

The types of jobs being cut vary, Andrus said.

He blamed the nation's shaky economy.

"In a bad economy, hospitals often feel the effects later than most businesses," he said.

People initially keep going to hospitals after they're laid off because employers often extend benefits beyond the date of termination, and because state COBRA benefits are available for a short time after job loss, he said.

But eventually those benefits run out. And that has meant fewer patients at Mission Hospital, as well as hospitals across the country, Andrus said.

"When people have less money, they’re less likely to go to the doctor," he said. "It’s sad and it’s unfortunate."

He said it's especially sad because Mission Hospital is a Catholic institution and provides care to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

"We don’t deny care to anyone who turns to us," he said.

Layoffs weren't the first step the hospital took to deal with its lower-than-usual patient numbers, the spokesman said. First, employees were encouraged to take their vacation time and the health group began monitoring overtime more carefully.

But eventually those measures weren't enough, he said.

No direct patient-care employees--doctors or nurses--were laid off, although two registered nurses left voluntarily, Andrus said.