By Sabrina Rodriguez
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (abc40) - In a press release about their current financial state, Cooley Dickinson Hosptial said their "growth has slowed" and the volume of inpatients and observation patients "have dropped below budgeted levels."
"Since March, our financial position has declined which is really keeping with what's been happening across the state," said Anne Morgan, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs at Cooley Dickinson Hosptial
Because of that decline, the hospital is now looking at layoffs.
How many isn't yet known.
"Everyone in the organization is involved in hearing the messages, in terms of what our current status is as well as helping us identify solutions so we can improve our financial performance," said Morgan.
While the hospital is re-aligning itself, the community is reacting.
"I'm a former preschool teacher so I feel very strongly toward nurses," said Sally Weiss of Northampton.
"Layoffs are a terrible thing," said Northampton resident Michele Kunitz. "I would certainly hope they would be limited and possibly find some other ways to cut expenses."
"Cooley Dickinson is a community hospital and there are a lot of people who work there," said Brooksley Williams of Florence. "It is a concern that people are going to have trouble getting care."
But for the most part, with they current state of the economy, residents understand the hospital's decision.
"It's expected that there's going to be some hard times ahead," said Northampton's Bud Stockwell. "I'm sure the people at Cooley Dickinson Hospital will be making the layoffs that are going to least affect patient care."
And that's exactly how the hospital will move forward with their decisions.
"We're a close knit community here," said Morgan. "Clearly this is a very difficult time for us we're doing everything possible to minimize the impact on people."
The number of layoffs and what departments will feel the effect is not yet known.
But hospital officials say the changes will take place during the first week of November.
Before that, Cooley Dickinson will hold a "Year In Review" meeting on October 15th, which will focus the hospital's future.
