120 Seton workers to lose jobs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Seton Family of Hospitals plans to eliminate jobs, affecting 120 employees.

Spokesperson Adrienne Lallo said that 77.5 positions would be eliminated. Many of these positions are part-time positions. A .5 position is considered a 20 hour/week job.

Many of the employees whose jobs are in jeopardy will be eligible to apply for 200 open positions with Seton. Others will see a reduction in hours rather than elimination.

"The final number of people actually losing their jobs, we're not sure of yet,” said Greg Hartman, President and CEO of University Medical Center Brackenridge . “We continue to grow in other areas. We're hoping we can fill most of those jobs with those people."

Seton is reorganizing and hopes to reduce its budget by 5 percent. It sites the economy and more uninsured patients as factors in the decision.

"We are trying to tighten the budget,” said Seton CEO Charles Barnett. “Hiring more people will still work, but we have to find new revenue sources. Attracting new doctors with needed specialties will make sure people want to come to Seton for services and bring their money here.”

Barnett also said the biggest need for new jobs comes as Seton opens another floor at its quickly-growing medical center in Hays County , plus the expansion of its Level 2 Trauma unit in Williamson County . The new jobs are mostly related to academic medicine - support staff for medical teachers, clinical research, and other clinical services.

"It is sort of ironic that you're eliminating positions, and then you're adding,” said Barnett. “But that is sort of the way it works when you've got such a large organization that you're growing."

Lallo said that Seton is planning an internal job fair in the next few weeks so that internal people can apply for available positions. Many facing layoffs currently hold administrative roles, though they have not received word of their future within the system yet.

"Even folks told, at first, their job is being eliminated and can't find a position right away,” said Hartman, “we'll continue to work with them as we continue to add jobs to get them into a position in the near future."

Seton employs about 11,000 people in 11 counties. It runs 5 medical centers, including University Medical Center Brackenridge and the Dell Children's Hospital . It also runs two community hospitals, two rural hospitals, and three primary care clinics for the uninsured.

The last time Seton had big cuts likes this was in 2008 when 93 workers lost their jobs. Most ended up getting other jobs within the Seton system later.