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JAMM AQUINO
Leahi Hospital is seen on Wednesday
Two state-run long-term care facilities on Oahu are cutting 64 positions and temporarily halting new admissions to stay afloat.
Officials of Leahi Hospital and Maluhia, part of the public hospital system known as Hawaii Health Systems Corp., said the reductions are the “last resort to remain operational in the face of an estimated $3.7 million deficit” in fiscal year 2016, which began on July 1.
Both facilities employ a total of 430 workers. The reduction represents roughly 15 percent of the staff.
The long-term care providers are downsizing one skilled nursing wing per facility, reducing the number of beds by 76, or about 25 percent of capacity.
“Our goal is to avoid patient transfers between our facilities or to outside care settings for as long as financial conditions will allow,” said Oahu Region CEO Derek Akiyoshi in a press release.
HHSC notified employees, patients and caregivers about the cutbacks on Tuesday. Staff reductions will not be fully implemented for more than three months. The official 90-day notice be issued on August 1.
