Alexian outsources, trims some services

Alexian Brothers Hospital Network has laid off a small number of employees unrelated to patient care in favor of outsourcing.

Spokesman Matt Wakely confirmed 11 foodservice workers were laid off Thursday and that 47 foodservice and childcare positions slated to be filled over the next two years have instead been eliminated.

The hospital network, which employs about 6,000 people locally and 10,000 nationwide, has begun to outsource its foodservice and childcare operations. That means workers who've been laid off could be rehired by the outside companies.

Alexian Brothers has also scaled back its 24-hour care services.

The Elk Grove Village-based hospital network still runs round-the-clock immediate care centers in Addison, Hanover Park and Palatine, but has cut 24-hour care at its facility at 1060 S. Elmhurst Road in Mount Prospect. Occupational health and outpatient testing was spared the cuts.

Another Mount Prospect facility originally tagged for use as a 24-hour care center remains vacant. Alexian Brothers might not open the newly built, 40,000-square-foot medical office complex at 199 W. Rand Road.

Alexian Brothers, which signed a 15-year lease on the property, is re-evaluating how it's going to use the facility, Mount Prospect Community Development Director Bill Cooney said.

Alexian Brothers isn't the only health network to take another look at 24-hour care.

In July, Northwest Community Hospital cut emergency room services at its three satellite centers in Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich and Schaumburg. Only the Buffalo Grove facility remains open 24 hours a day.

Alexian Brothers made another change in the past several weeks, merging its diabetes education treatment program at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates with the one at its flagship Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.

Wakely said each program now operates under the same administrative staff to improve efficiency and better serve the patient population.

One or two duplicate positions were cut as a result, he said, but more people will be employed in the long run.

"We have aggressive plans to expand the program," Wakely said. "We've hired dozens of dietitians who will provide more education, outreach and screenings."

Wakely said he was unaware of any further layoffs being planned.

Alexian Brothers is scheduled to open a $100 million addition to its Elk Grove Village medical center in 2009.

The hospital network has also launched a fundraising campaign to build a new children's hospital at St. Alexius.