UT President Lloyd Jacobs and Dr. Jeffrey Gold, Health Science Campus provost, executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, informed employees yesterday afternoon that The University of Toledo Medical Center had begun layoffs of a number of UTMC employees. The letter pointed to the direct effects of the economic recession on the health-care delivery system across the country and in our region, and the need to maintain “frontline” health care.
The letter stated, “The University of Toledo Medical Center, consistent with our mission and core values, is doing its part to help those in need of health care. However, the same market forces are also requiring us, and other hospitals, to make some hard choices.”
The exact number of people affected by the layoffs is not clear yet due to the ongoing position changes.
Jacobs and Gold wrote that the decision to reduce hospital-operating expenses through layoffs was a very difficult one. “However, given the ongoing economic situation, we must continue to find ways to achieve more with fewer resources. These friends and colleagues deserve our gratitude for making UTMC a better place to work and learn, and for having helped improve the human condition. We will do everything we can to treat them fairly during this unfortunate transition. It is our hope to have many if not all rejoin our family when conditions permit.”
The letter concluded with an assurance that UTMC will remain firm in its goals and its commitment to patients, as well as appreciation for the continued support and cooperation of all employees during these difficult times.
