Mt. Vernon Councilman Richard Thomas speaks on his disappointed with the continued reduction of services at Mt. Vernon Hospital for the benefit of Sound Shore New Rochelle Hospital. "Our statistics get grants and state funding for their system, but it doesn't reach our community. This is wrong beyond measure."
Sound Shore and Mount Vernon hospitals are laying off at least 80 health-care workers, officials at the parent company of both facilities said Thursday.
The laid-off employees include pharmacists, laboratory workers, case managers, respiratory therapists, X-ray technicians, clerks, housekeepers and dietary aides.
The company said in a statement it was laying off workers “as a result of changes in the health care environment, particularly in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies, along with providing more than $30 million in uncompensated care to under- and uninsured in our service area.”
The union representing many of the workers said it was shocked by the action.
“We were very surprised,” said Maria Kercado, an official with Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents nearly 1,200 workers at the two hospitals. “We weren’t expecting it.”
The union plans to meet with local officials and community leaders at 9 a.m. Monday outside Mount Vernon Hospital.
Workers were stunned by the news their jobs would be eliminated Sept. 25.
“What am I going to do now?” said Aleen Aikens, a certified nursing assistant who has worked at Sound Shore for three years. “Where do I go from here?”
She has asthma and fears she will not be able to afford her medication without the health insurance she gets through her job.
Hospital officials said the layoffs will affect workers at all levels, including physicians, nurses, management and support personnel.
“In restructuring, close attention was given to maintaining high-quality patient care, which has been accomplished,” the hospital said in a statement.
The layoffs come just two months after Sound Shore announced ambitious plans to build a $35 million, five-story medical office building at Washington Avenue in New Rochelle.
President John Spicer said in June that the building is part of a strategic plan for the hospital that includes a $6 million or $7 million expansion of its emergency room, expected to begin in the fall.
Wednesday, Aug. 22 7:00 PM
Doles Center
250 6th Ave,Mount Vernon N.Y
250 6th Ave,Mount Vernon N.Y
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