Baptist Health System downsizes structure

Baptist Health System downsizes structure

Baptist Health System (BHS) in Birmingham in refocusing its resources on its four core hospitals – Princeton, Shelby, Walker and Citizens Baptist medical centers – BHS CEO Beth O’Brien said Sept. 14.

In a memo to system employees, O’Brien announced that BHS is making a “fundamental change” in the structure of the system to shift more responsibilities of administration and certain system services to the hospitals. “The role and scope of several (BHS) services will change and some existing system positions will be eliminated,” she wrote.

As a result of the reconfiguration, 21 employees will be let go from their administrative positions at the system’s main office, O’Brien told The Alabama Baptist.

She said the restructuring of the system office was complete, and now BHS is working with the hospitals to cement roles and responsibilities.

“We have, working with the hospital presidents … taken a very close look at certain of the (BHS) support services and how they best can be delivered in the new Baptist Health System,” O’Brien said in the memo. “This work of developing a shared decision making model will be carried out over the next several months.”

She further expressed her appreciation to those employees in the memo. “I want to express my appreciation to each person affected by this action for their service and work in support of our mission,” O’Brien wrote. “We thank you for your commitment and dedication to our health-care ministry as we work to meet both our mission and vision.”

(TAB, BHS)