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Three O.C. hospitals lay off 159

July 13th, 2009, 3:23 pm · 18 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

St. Joseph Health System is laying off 159 workers throughout Orange County effective Sept. 14, a hospital spokesman confirmed today.
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Kevin Andrus, St. Joseph spokesman, said the layoffs will be at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and at the Health System office in Orange. They include all levels of workers from rank-and-file to executives.

Andrus noted that hospitals typically lag other sectors during a recession because laid-off workers often continue to have health insurance for a period of time.

"We usually don't feel it for three to six months," he said. "But at some point there is nothing else you can do."

The layoffs will  result in a 1.7% reduction in the not-for-profit Catholic healthcare  system's workforce of just under 9,000 in Orange County, said Andrus.  The system has about 19,500 employees nationwide.

St. Joseph's workers will get a minimum of two-weeks' severance plus one week for each year worked up to a maximum of 26 weeks.  They will also be eligible for COBRA and will receive a lump-sum payment to cover the costs. The system will also provide outplacement assistance for six months to help the workers find new jobs.

It's been a difficult year for Orange County healthcare workers.  Irvine Regional Hospital closed in January for an 18-month renovation by Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian which will take over the facility. About 510 workers lost their jobs.

About 580 workers at South Coast Medical Center received layoff notices as part of Mission Hospital's plan buy the Laguna Beach facility.  About 100 South Coast workers reportedly did not get rehired after the merger was finalized June 30.

See the Register's 2009 Orange County layoff list HERE.

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 18 Comments

  • Margaret says:
    July 14, 2009 at 8:24 am

    and they want us to feel the economy is improving.

  • fher says:
    July 14, 2009 at 8:40 am

    well what will the unemployment be by yrs end 12-13% or higher. but hey the bamster is saying his stimulus is working the way they planned it. yup getting people out of jobs and having them depend on the government thats what they want. welcome people to a soft tyrany.

    • Bryan says:
      July 14, 2009 at 8:48 am

      You cannot be serious? "getting people out of jobs and having them depend on the government thats what they want"

      What good would that do Obama or anyone else in government for that matter?
      If that were the plan,there eventually would be no government to depend on. There would be no economy.

      Seriously, you should lay off the Fox cool aid.

      To say that our President WANTS people unemployed and dependant on goverment.....sounds like InsHANNITY.

  • Dood says:
    July 14, 2009 at 8:44 am

    If you think it's bad now just wait until Obama takes over the health care system.

  • fcprop says:
    July 14, 2009 at 9:01 am

    Let me guess the illegals are not paying for healthcare. Over crowded emegency rooms!

  • Les says:
    July 14, 2009 at 9:20 am

    UC Irvine Medical Center just opened a huge building, in Orange. Kaiser is building a new Hospital, off the 91 Frwy. , in Anaheim. I guess these new facilities were planned before the economic meltdown. It was only a matter of time, until the free services for illegal immigrants caught up with them.

  • ruby says:
    July 14, 2009 at 9:42 am

    why do some of u have to bring up the illegals for everything that is going on. u guys should worry about urself and stop bringing them up about everthing.

  • gp says:
    July 14, 2009 at 9:45 am

    It's OK, Messia Obama is going to fix it all!

  • Marie says:
    July 14, 2009 at 9:50 am

    I worked at UCI back in 1999 -2006. They were laying off over there since i began there in 99. I got the lay off there in 2006. It's a cycle there.

  • MissOC4780 says:
    July 14, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    I left California to better my family life and it is so true about the illegals there. THEY GET EVERYTHING! I am in a better place now, away from all the smootchers that enjoy taking from all of us hard working people. In Cali, me and my husband both had to work to pay for the illegals healthcare, food stamps and everything else. Since we left Cali, I am staying home to watch my own children, and am budgeting to make ends meet. I think the illegals need to go back to where they came from, and perhaps the economy will be better then what it is now. More jobs available for US Citizens. BTW.... US Citizens need to suck it up they have to flip burgers or clean toilets. At least it is a job.

  • KB1234 says:
    July 14, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    It's about time to fix this crap system.

  • SoCalNative says:
    July 16, 2009 at 3:41 am

    It's too late people. We voted on and approved 3 different ballot measures that may have prevented the California BK, but they were all overturned as Unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court. The will of the people is unimportant to the court judges. We have no say, we really have no rights and we are soon to be deprived of our property and life if the state legislature has their way. They don't care about us, because they have their own pension and benefits program. They don't need social security. When are the people of the state of California going to wake up?

  • angry_white_losers says:
    July 19, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Wow, lots of comments from angry losers blaming their shortcoming on illegal immigration. And of course the cliche post from someone who left California but reads a California newspaper site. I am sure blaming others helps you avoid the truth that you. cannot. afford.

  • longcat says:
    July 21, 2009 at 12:22 am

    I would love to see a list of the type of employees that got layed off... I'm a radiology tech at kaiser and it's crazy how much my profession has been impacted by the recession. Couple of years ago there was a shortage of techs. Now there's too many. Only the lucky ones are full-time.