San Gabriel Valley : 2 Hospitals Lay Off Staff

Two local hospitals, Methodist of Southern California in Arcadia and San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in San Gabriel, have announced staff layoffs that both say are needed to offset reduced revenue from the federal government for Medicare patients. Neither hospital laid off nurses.

Methodist laid off 27 employees and cut the positions of another 25 from full time to part time, a reduction equivalent to 4% of the work force. In addition, any positions that become vacant will be eliminated.

San Gabriel’s 5% staff reduction included laying off 13 employees and the planned elimination of 20 positions as they become vacant. The food and housekeeping departments have been turned over to contracting companies, but most of the 63 hospital employees in those departments will be hired by the companies, a spokesman said.