SACRAMENTO, CA - Sutter Health announced Monday that 121 employees of its Information Services Department will lose their jobs.
Sutter cited the "continued economic downturn affecting the health care industry and all California employers" as the reason for the layoffs.
"This decision was one of the most difficult I've ever had to make," said Sutter Health Chief Information Officer Jon Manis. "I helped to hire them, I helped to recruit them, talked them into these positions, these are friends, in many ways family members."
Sutter's IS department is similar to what many companies call their Information Technology or IT department.
"These are dedicated and talented professionals who have provided tremendous value to our organization," said Manis. "Unfortunately these staffing changes are necessary. We have a higher responsibility now more than ever to our patients who pay for health care to be good stewards and to keep our services affordable."
The employees will be given the next two months paid before severance benefits begin, according to a company news release. The employees will also receive payment of health coverage premiums and job placement services for the duration of their severance.
Sutter Health and its affiliated hospitals and physician organizations will continue to employ approximately 1,500 IS staff in Sacramento and other communities around Northern California.
News10/KXTV