Kaiser Permanente lays off 84 across Southern California

Officials at Kaiser Permanente are calling the laying off of 84 employees a "modest downsizing of staff" across Southern California.

The layoffs do not include physicians.

However, union officials say they have been told as many as 550 employees locally may be let go. In this area, Kaiser has medical offices in Long Beach, Downey, Bellflower, Norwalk and Carson.

"Over the past several months, Kaiser Permanente has undertaken a series of cost-reduction initiatives that will allow us to continue to provide the right care at the right time and at an affordable price for our members," said Greg Christian, executive director for Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan, Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers.

"These initiatives include a modest downsizing of staff across the Southern California region."

However, a union official representing 4,100 Kaiser employees said more people are expected to be eliminated.

"We have heard as many as 550 employees in Southern California and 450 in Oregon are expected to be laid off," said John Borsos, secretary/treasurer of the National Union of Healthcare Workers.

"We as NUHW have not gotten any layoffs but there are managers in a number of classifications that have received notices."

Borsos said a memo sent Oct. 23 to Kaiser Permanente Southern California managers said 466 of 550 employees would be terminated. The 84 who have been laid off are all nonunion employees,

he said.

NUHW represents registered nurses at the Los Angeles Medical Center, mental health professionals, clinical and social workers, and psychologists in Northern and Southern California.

Cutbacks will affect most Kaiser medical centers from San Diego to Kern County; the numbers and positions vary by location and need, Christian said.

Kaiser in Southern California has 60,000 staff members and 5,700 physicians.

Kaiser officials have confirmed seven positions at the Ontario Medical Facility and five at Fontana were eliminated last week. However, the sites of the other layoffs weren't released by Kaiser on Wednesday.

"We have worked hard to limit the number of our employees who will be affected. For instance, we will not be filling some of the positions that are currently vacant or where employees will be retiring in the near future, unless they are needed in a direct patient care role," Christian said.

"It is important to note that none of the positions eliminated will in any way jeopardize the quality of patient care, which is always our primary focus."

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Source: http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_21898016/kaiser-permanente-lays-off-84-across-southern-california?source=rss_emailed

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