Baptist Health announces voluntary buyouts for some employees

July 22--Baptist Health South Florida, one of the largest private employers in Miami-Dade County, announced a voluntary separation program for certain eligible workers on Thursday in a bid to strengthen the hospital system for the future of healthcare reform, an executive said.

The healthcare giant, which operates six hospitals and dozens of urgent care centers and other medical facilities in South Florida, did not disclose how many of its estimated 11,350 employees the company aims to shed.

Adriene McCoy, corporate vice president and head of human resources, said in a written statement that the program is "completely voluntary" and that "it's difficult to predict exact numbers."

Not all Baptist Health employees will be eligible for the buyout, however. Physicians and nurses involved in direct patient care, temporary workers and anyone hired after June 30 will be excluded from the program.

Terms of the separation program will vary according to each employee's level and length of service, McCoy said. Savings generated from the workforce reduction will be reinvested in growth areas, she added, such as the new Miami Cancer Institute, enhanced technology and an expansion of primary care and outpatient services.

"Our goal is to increase efficiencies while maintaining high levels of quality patient care and service," she said. "Once we determine the number of employees who choose to participate in this program, we will be able to better evaluate our next steps."

Daniel Chang: 305-376-2012, @dchangmiami

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