By Ken Little
Wilmington, NC – Novant Health officials looked at many ways to cut costs at Brunswick Community Hospital, including employee salaries.
That led to the layoff of 15 hospital employees this week and the elimination of three administrative positions two weeks ago.
Those who got pink slips work in 13 hospital departments and their job duties will be reallocated, hospital spokeswoman Amy Myers says.
In today's ailing economy, consumers are delaying elective surgeries and some people are even putting off regular physicial exams, meaning less business for the hospital.
The job cuts and other cost-reducing measures at Brunswick Community Hospital are expected to save Novant Health about $2.4 million per year, Myers says.
Novant's new hospital in Brunswick County remains under construction and on schedule to open next summer. Meanwhile, officials at New Hanover Regional Medical Center foresee no layoffs there in the immediate future.
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