Carson Valley Medical Center not affected by Barton layoffs

Carson Valley Medical Center is not affected by layoffs by its parent company.

The Barton Health Care System is cutting its staff size by 4.3 percent due to the economic downturn.

However, Manager of Market Relations Shannon Albert said she hasn't received word anyone was being cut from the Gardnerville hospital.

"Carson Valley Medical Center, our local community hospital in Gardnerville, which is owned in part by BartonHealth System in South Lake Tahoe, has confirmed that they are not affected at all by the recent cuts at the Tahoe-based hospital," Albert said. "In fact, patient volumes at Carson Valley Medical Center have been up and they are showing a profit so far in 2009."

Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Bill Hale said that there are no plans for cutbacks or layoffs at the Gardnerville hospital or any of the local medical clinics it manages.

Companywide, 43 of the nearly 1,000 employees were laid off, 26 of whom are full-time, and 17 part-time.

"This has been a painstakingly difficult decision to effect staff layoffs," said Barton Health Care System Chief Executive Officer John G. Williams. "However, it is prudent that we respond to the decrease in patient volumes and the increased costs by aligning resources and expenses to remain strong as an organization and health care provider to our community."

Barton's decision to implement staff layoffs follows several cost reduction measures previously taken including budget and operational cuts, attrition, as well as a freeze on all training and travel.

For more information, contact Monica Sciuto, director of public relations and marketing at (530) 543-5601 or email msciuto@bartonhealth.org.

Barton Health Care System is a nonprofit community health care provider.