Dozens of employees laid off at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services

A hospital spokesperson confirmed that Penrose-St. Francis Health Services laid off 42 employees this week.

The layoffs were issued Monday, and are the only significant workforce reduction in a decade.

The dismissed employees’ last day will be in about two weeks.

The employees being dismissed are from all levels of the organization, but no physicians are affected.

The layoffs come as the health system’s owner, Catholic Health Initiatives, is facing financial problems that caused a delay in the expansion of the St. Francis Medical Center. When asked if the layoffs were because of the financial issues facing the health system’s owner, the hospital spokesperson said he wouldn’t comment on that and referred KRDO to this statement:

“Penrose-St. Francis is introducing a new staffing model that will result in less than two percent workforce reduction. This new model is designed to increase efficiency of operations and position ourselves for the vibrant growth occurring in our community. It is important to note that this change will not affect the services offered at either Penrose Hospital or St. Francis Medical Center or the compassionate whole person care our community expects.”

These aren’t the first recent layoffs for Catholic Health Initiatives.

Almost 300 people were let go just two months ago from CHI’s St. Mary Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo.