Ascension Florida hospital to close maternity unit, lay off 68 (Courtesy of Becker’s Hospital Review) —
Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside in Jacksonville, Fla., will be ending maternity care at the hospital later this year, affecting 68 jobs, according to a Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state Jan. 17.
A hospital news release shared with Becker’s states that Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside will be ending maternity care, beginning March 19. Maternity care will continue at Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside in Jacksonville and Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County in Middleburg, Fla.
“Concentrating obstetrical and neonatal services at the two hospitals on the Southside and in Clay County will help ensure these sites of care will continue to fully meet the broader needs of our community,” Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside said.
The move will affect 62 registered nurses as well as six other positions, according to the WARN notice.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside, part of St. Louis-based Ascension, attributed this transition to declining maternity patient volumes at the hospital and the increasing availability of alternative regional sites to provide maternity care.
The hospital said it is contacting affected patients “to ensure personalized, seamless continuity of care at other area facilities,” and will work with affected workers “to determine potential opportunities for transitioning to open positions within Ascension St. Vincent’s.”
The WARN notice states that employee separations are expected to start during the 14 day period starting on March 19, and employees who do not secure another position within Ascension will be eligible to receive severance.
Photo courtesy of Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside