UTICA, N.Y. – Mohawk Valley Health System has released details of its new revenue recovery and restructuring plan, after announcing layoffs and additional furloughs were impending in July.

According to MVHS President Darlene Stromstad, most of the eliminated positions were from administration, leadership, office support staff and mixed logistical support. The layoffs take effect Thursday, Aug. 13.

“Maintaining frontline positions that directly care for patients, such as nurses and care attendants, was our priority,” said Stromstad.

She says several of the jobs removed were open positions, that didn’t affect current employees. They also put off hiring for some openings, so they could offer those positions to impacted employees.

“Our goal is to be as supportive to our employees as possible. This means that we are working with representatives of the labor unions and with individual employees to identify vacant positions employees can move into. We continue to have openings in several areas and will retrain our employees if they desire,” said Stromstad.

MVHS did not disclose the number of layoffs, but says severance and short-term continuation of health insurance has been made available for eligible employees.

Furloughs were also extended through Oct. 13, for positions “in areas where there is a potential for volume increases within the next two months,” according to Stromstad.

Other changes include:

• Closing Faxton Urgent Care Aug. 31. Telehealth care will be available through that time.
• Creating a new Neurosciences Unit and an Intermediate Care Unit by converting the Progressive Care and Special Care units at the St. Luke’s Campus. 
• Conducting all pre-admission testing at one location, which is the Medical Arts Building in New Hartford.
• Closing and consolidating medical offices in the region.
• Limiting discretionary spending and freezing non-essential capital expenditures.
• Extended salary cuts and pension elimination through October.