Nonprofit North Hawaii Hospital lays off 13 workers

The nonprofit North Hawaii Community Hospital on the Big Island announced in early April that it is laying off 13 workers in an effort to improve hospital efficiency and curb further losses. Hospital executives said the cuts are needed to continue its recovery from a $10 million operating loss in 2008 — its worst loss in the hospital’s 14-year history in Kamuela.

North Hawaii ended 2009 with a $5 million loss and cash flow continues to improve amid restructuring of operations, hospital officials said on April 8. Established in 1996, the private nonprofit North Hawaii Community Hospital is a rural 39-bed acute-care hospital located in Kamuela.

The 13 employees, whose last day was April 10, include six at Kohala Home Health, three in the hospital’s outpatient rehabilitation therapy department, two in pharmacy and one each in the quality and community-wellness departments. Each will earn 20 hours of severance pay for each year they have worked for North Hawaii and will continue to receive their medical and dental insurance benefits through May 31.