Mercy cuts 42 jobs in Springfield

Mercy has cut 42 positions in Springfield as part of systemwide cuts conducted by the health care system.

The cuts are limited to non-patient care support areas. Throughout St. Louis-based Mercy's 40,000-employee system, 220 positions were eliminated, which equates to less than 1 percent of its workforce, according to a news release.

Mercy Springfield spokeswoman Sonya Kullmann said via email the jobs cut in Springfield came from 19 different support services departments and include positions such as administrative roles, business office workers and computer technical support. She noted some Springfield employees have moved into other open positions within Mercy, and the system also is providing outplacement services.

“While not uncommon in today’s health care environment, these kinds of changes are nonetheless difficult,” Mercy President and CEO Lynn Britton said in the release. “As we realign to operate more efficiently, growth and expansion will continue across Mercy as community needs warrant.”

In a statement released to news media earlier this month announcing the 220 layoffs, Mercy said cuts were made, in part, because of a lack of Medicaid expansion in most of the states the health system serves. In Missouri, expansion failed to pass during this year's legislative session.[[In-content Ad]]