Northwest Community Healthcare lays off 104 employees

Northwest Community Healthcare laid off 104 employees this week, about 3 percent of its workforce, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The Arlington Heights system lost $13.2 million on operations in 2011, the third straight year of losses, according to Crain’s Chicago Healthcare.

Jackie Speckin, Northwest’s director of strategic marketing, said she could not confirm the financial numbers in the Crain’s story and said she would have more information Thursday.

Average occupancy fell to 67 percent during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, compared to 70 percent during fiscal 2010.

Crain’s quoted her as blaming the decrease on industry trends.

The health care system lost $14.2 million in 2010, said Crain’s. The last profit, $6.3 million, was posted in fiscal year 2008, followed by a loss of $2.7 million in 2009.

While revenue climbed to $519.2 million last year, up 11.2 percent from $467 million, expenses also rose quickly, according to Crain’s.

The hospital is at 800 W. Central Road in Arlington Heights, with immediate care centers in Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich and Schaumburg.