Orlando Health confirms second round of layoffs

ORLANDO, Fla. — Layoffs are making their way through Orlando Health.

A company spokeswoman confirmed its part of a second round of layoffs and other cuts that were first announced in November of 2012.

Andrew Harrell had just left Orlando Regional Medical Center Friday and didn't know about the potential layoffs. He said he waited two hours in the emergency room and was concerned.

"If there were less people, then they'd make us wait a lot more and right now we have to wait a long time anyway," Harrell said.

ORMC, the area's only Level 1 trauma center, is among eight Orlando Health hospitals that'll see reduced staffing and other cuts in the coming months.

Last November, Orlando Health announced layoffs with 300 to 400 people on the chopping block.

Some were already let go and more will be soon.

One ORMC employee who didn't want to be identified said she and seven of her coworkers in the wound management department are losing their jobs.

Becky Farrant's mother is at MD Anderson Cancer Center and said the care her mother is receiving is great at the moment.

"I would hope they would be able to keep the patient-to-nurse ratio the same when it happens, but who knows," Farrant said.

In a statement a spokesperson said, "In November 2012 Orlando Health launched an effort to reposition the organization to become more efficient without sacrificing quality or performance. The recent activities you have inquired about represent our continued efforts to transition our delivery model to meet the needs of increasingly competitive and dynamic needs of diverse patient and physician communities in a new, ever-changing, healthcare environment. Efficiency enhancements, expense reduction, restructuring processes, and reorganization of staff, are expected as part of this ongoing process."

She wouldn't comment on how many jobs are on the chopping block this go-around but confirmed some nurses in all departments will work two days a week instead of three.

The reason for the layoffs could be a 20 percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursements from 2012.

WFTV