As numerous hospitals across the state continue to face financial struggles, Memorial Hospital on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has released that nearly 90 employees have been laid off.
The Gulfport hospital announced the layoffs in a statement on Tuesday, saying that the employees were terminated because of increased costs from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Memorial serves as the largest hospital in Harrison County, with the recent layoffs accounting for two percent of the location’s total workforce. No other terminations are expected to be made at the hospital at this time, and no service lines will be shuttered as a result of the layoffs.
“These difficult steps will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our health system so we can continue to offer the same services to our community,” Memorial’s CEO, Kent Nicaud, said. “We are committed to providing high-quality care close to home.”
According to the statement, Memorial officials have advised those impacted by the terminations to apply for open positions at the hospital and use its career placement services.
Memorial, which recently terminated its membership with the Mississippi Hospital Association, is one of many hospitals in the Magnolia State that have been forced to fire employees due to financial strains brought on by the pandemic.
Within the past year, Greenwood Leflore Hospital — the largest hospital in the Delta — has closed intensive care, labor and delivery, and three clinics while laying off over 70 workers.
Other hospitals, including Alliance Healthcare System in Holly Springs and Singing River Health System’s Gulfport location, have also announced closures of several departments this year alone.
