TOWN OF WALLKILL – Garnet Health is laying off 26 employees to save $4.6 million in salaries and benefits as it announced a restructuring plan at the close of the business day on Monday.
Eliminated positions include a mix of management, union and non-union staff.
Included in the reorganization are eliminating inpatient palliative care services provided by a team of dedicated palliative care specialists; shifting the mission of Garnet Health Doctors from outpatient services to optimizing the infectious disease practice to fit the needs of inpatients and reducing outpatient capacity due to lack of demand; and Garnet Health will phase out providing medical directorship to three local post-acute facilities.
The hospital said Garnet “continues to be challenged with significant labor expenses, inflation on supplies and equipment, and low payor reimbursement rates.” The statement said while patient volumes are increasing, they have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels.
“We made a commitment to the communities we serve, as well as to our organization, to leverage opportunities that provide growth and stability so we can continue to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional healthcare for generations to come,” said Jonathan Schiller, president and CEO for Garnet Health.
Garnet Health is the parent corporation to Garnet Health Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill, Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills in Harris, Garnet Health Doctors, Garnet Health Urgent Care, Garnet Health Foundation and Garnet Health Foundation – Catskills.
The hospital corporation’s announcement, made through a public relations firm, did not specify in which facility or facilities the cuts would be made.
The announcement did say the employee layoffs represent less than one percent of its total workforce systemwide.
