Some changes are coming to Edward Hospital over the next year. Today Edward-Elmhurst Health CEO Mary Lou Mastro announced a plan to reduce costs by $50 million over the next year, including cutting jobs and other expenses.
There is currently no exact number of how many positions will be cut, but Edward-Elmhurst already has 300 open positions that are not being filled.
Mastro says the existing cost structures for hospitals today are not sustainable.
The change is due to increased numbers of patients with Medicare and Medicaid, which do not cover the cost of care, as well as insured patients being unable to pay higher co-pays and increased charity care. Officials also cite increased pharmaceutical and medical supply costs.
The system fell short of its 2017 operating income budget by $8 million dollars. Mastro says this is the first year the budget fell below expectation, but she has no reason to expect it to improve without action.
She says although there will be cuts, the hospital will not be losing any services.
Naperville News 17’s Beth Bria reports.