JOPLIN, MO. (AP) -- St. John's Regional Medical Center is eliminating 160 jobs as part of a plan to cut $30 million in expenses and preserve the hospital's core services. The medical center also is closing its primary-care clinics in Girard, Kan., and Grove, Okla., and changes are pending at its Neosho clinic.
Hospital chief George Caralis says competition with another local hospital and a rising number of uninsured patients prompted the move, which is part of a plan to save $30 million. He also noted that Medicaid reimbursements haven't changed in eight years.
St. John's work force will be about 2,200, which is about the same as it was in 2000.
On Wednesday, Caralis unveiled St. John's new "Mission Forward" plan that narrows the hospital's focus to its core services. The center will focus on services connected to cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, women's services and neursciences.
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