WEIRTON, WV -- Weirton Medical Center announced Friday it has eliminated 43 jobs as part of a financial restructuring plan.

The positions were eliminated through a combination of attrition, hour reductions and layoffs. The reductions include both management and non-management positions.

In a news release, hospital officials said the plan will result in excess of $3 million annually in additional revenue and reduced costs.

The plan will address revenue by expanding services offered and increasing existing market share, as well as by reducing salary and non-salary expenses, officials said.

WMC outlined the plan after suffering a $4.7 million loss from operations in fiscal year 2006 due primarily to increased salaries and wages, medical supply costs, utility costs, bad debt/charity care and provider tax, as well as a shortfall in reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.

Officials said the changes are designed to ensure the hospital's viability and position it to grow the services it offers to members of the community.

“Patients coming to the Weirton Medical Center will not notice any changes in care here, as our commitment to providing quality care remains stronger than ever,” said Joseph P. Endrich, M.D., president and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to ensure that we are here to provide the care our community needs every day of the year, every hour of the day.”

The restructuring plan focuses on volume growth in areas such as physical therapy and surgery, market growth, and geographic expansion. Initiatives designed to control expenses include specific focuses on overtime management, supply chain management and the renegotiations of service and supply contracts.

Hospital officials said additional time will be given to transition employees affected by the reductions, with outplacement services and severance packages offered according to hospital policies and the collective bargaining agreement.

-Renee Cardelli, NEWS9