Hospital layoffs at Baptist Beaumont and Orange

     Baptist Hospital is eliminating a total of 50 positions in Beaumont and Orange. Administrators with the Baptist health care system say it's because of factors including the effects of reduced reimbursements and the rising number of under-insured and un-insured patients.

     33 positions will be cut at Baptist Beaumont Hospital and 17 at Baptist Orange Hospital. Administrators say the reductions won't impact direct patient care staffing. The layoffs include management, support and ancillary positions.

     They account for just 3% of the workforce at the Beaumont and Orange facilities. The same factors have caused other hospitals in Southeast Texas to reduce positions in recent years.

     "This is a sad day at Baptist Hospital. We've been here for 60 years and these employees are part of our family. We have a culture here and this is a difficult day but it's gonna make sure we're here for the rest of the people in Southest Texas," said Mary Poole with Baptist.