Providence to cut jobs

Providence Health & Services is telling employees it will eliminate some positions in the next two months due to “financial challenges” and “a fundamental shift in our industry.”

Providence, the largest health care provider in Washington and largest employer in Spokane, hasn’t said how many positions will be cut in Spokane or its other 15 locations across five states. The number to be cut across Eastern Washington will be “relatively small,” spokeswoman Liz DeRuyter said Thursday.

“We have been doing a tremendous amount of work to reduce expenses over the past several years,” DeRuyter said. “Even though there will be positions that are lost, the number will be relatively small.”

Renton-based Providence operates Sacred Heart Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital and Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah, plus hospitals in Centralia, Everett, Olympia and Walla Walla/ Scott Maben , SR. More here.