St. Rose cites economy in laying off 57 workers

By Steve Green

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | 5:15 p.m.

St. Rose Dominican Hospitals on Wednesday said it eliminated 57 of its 3,500 jobs in Southern Nevada as part of a restructuring aimed at reducing costs.

The St. Rose system, with three hospitals in the Henderson and southwest Las Vegas areas, said most of the employees laid off were in administrative and support positions and patient care won’t be affected.

St. Rose cited the economic downturn in announcing the restructuring and layoffs.

“Many in our communities now lack insurance, are postponing elective procedures and are even unable to afford basic care,’’ Rod Davis, president/CEO of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, said in a statement “In addition, the state has reduced or eliminated access to reimbursement sources for the indigent such as the Indigent Accident Fund, Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) fund and Medicaid.”

“Our employees are our most important resource and because of that this was a very difficult decision to make," Davis said. “However, this effort along with other cost saving measures and a reorganization of services across the market will help us remain strong.”

The restructuring involves consolidating all obstetric and neonatal care in Henderson at the Siena Campus.

Maternal child services will be ending at the Rose de Lima campus in Henderson.

All acute care pediatrics will be at the Siena Campus, and they will end at the San Martín campus in southwest Las Vegas.

Maternal child services at San Martín will not be affected by the change.

The existing Maternal/Child unit at Rose de Lima will be converted to medical/surgical rooms.

Also, intermediate care and general medical services at Rose de Lima will be relocated within the hospital. The area vacated by the Intermediate Care Unit will be converted to an Observation/Holding/Chest Pain Unit.

The Rose de Lima Acute Rehabilitation Unit will be expanded from 14 to 21 beds and will help support new program offerings. Most of the affected rooms at Rose de Lima will be converted from semi-private to single-patient rooms and the expenses for these updates will be philanthropically funded.

Hospital spokesman Andy North said expansions under way at the Siena operating room and emergency room departments will continue, but no further expansions at any of the hospitals are planned in the short term.