St. Joseph Hospital and OC/HD Service Area Organization Changes

St. Joseph Hospital Organization Changes

As a member of our hospital family, you know that our primary focus has always centered on providing compassionate care and support—to our patients and to one another. It’s in this spirit that I am writing to share some difficult news and provide clarity about upcoming changes affecting our organization.

In previous organizational memos and in our Open Houses we discussed the need for a reduction in workforce based on the current financial climate.

After a careful review of our operations, we have made the difficult decision to reduce certain positions across the hospital. This decision was not made lightly and followed a thorough and thoughtful process.

What this means.

The reduction initially impacted 77 positions; however, many of these roles are vacant due to retirements, resignations or open positions that will not be filled. This week, 27 colleagues were notified that their roles are being eliminated. Their last day will be July 11.

One department is being eliminated: the Pre-Op Admission Surgical Services (or PASS) department, which affects 8 positions. PASS caregivers have the opportunity to apply for 3 open positions as part of this restructure.

Impacted team members will receive support and guidance as they explore other opportunities both within Providence and externally. We are committed to helping them with job searches, resume assistance and navigating online career resources.

Supporting our colleagues.

We know that this news is difficult—not only for those directly affected, but for all of us. These caregivers are not just coworkers; they are friends and members of our extended hospital family. Over the next few weeks, we encourage you to offer your support as we say goodbye. We want to honor their contributions and relationships built.

Moving forward.

Our commitment to our patients and to one another remains unchanged. We will work together to support those who are transitioning from our organization and to provide exceptional care to our community. We’ll continue to assess position management and financial performance on a monthly basis and we’ll keep you abreast of actions needed as we monitor our improvement efforts.

If you have questions, concerns, or need support, please reach out to your core leader. We are here for you.

Please see below for a message I’m sending to all caregivers in the Orange County/High Desert service area.

Orange County / High Desert Organization Changes

Today, Providence Chief Operating Officer Darryl Elmouchi, M.D., shared an important update about how our organization is responding to the significant challenges facing health care today.

Here in Orange County/High Desert, we are experiencing those same pressures. As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care – especially for those who are most vulnerable—we’ve been carefully evaluating every aspect of our operations.

As a result of this work, our local ministry leaders have made difficult decisions that will impact 50 caregivers in our service area. While this represents a small portion of our workforce, we know that behind every role is a person, a colleague, a friend—and that this news brings pain and uncertainty.

Those affected are being notified personally by their leaders with the care and respect they deserve. In moments like these, our core values—Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Integrity, and Excellence—are more important than ever. We are committed to assisting every caregiver impacted and offering support and resources during this transition.

We will be providing a range of resources to help our colleagues navigate what comes next, including:

• Opportunities to apply for other open roles within the Providence family
• Outplacement assistance services
• Continued access to the Caregiver Assistance Program for emotional and mental well-being

As Dr. Elmouchi noted, health care is under immense pressure – from proposed federal and state cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, to delayed reimbursements and ongoing denials from commercial insurers, and rising costs due to inflation and tariffs. These realities require us to adapt and reorganize so we can focus on areas of greatest need, expand access to care and strengthen our ability to serve the community.

To our caregivers whose roles are impacted: please know this decision is not a reflection of your value or your contributions. You’ve been an important part of our organization and will always be part of our caregiver family. We’re grateful for your service at Providence.

To all caregivers: In the days and weeks ahead, you may be saying goodbye to caregivers you admire and care about. Thank you for continuing to serve our patients with grace and for showing care, compassion and kindness to each other during this time. And please remember that our Mission and Spiritual Care teams are here to support you as well.

While these changes are undeniably difficult, I remain optimistic about the path ahead. These steps reflect our ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more sustainable organization – one that continues to honor our Mission and care for those we serve.

Brian Helleland
Chief Executive
Providence St. Joseph Hospital &
Orange County/High Desert, South Division