Landmark Medical Center Lays Off 31 People

Thirty-one employees of Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island were laid off Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Affected employees included members of management, administrative and patient care staffs.  

Landmark has been in a special form of receivership, Special Mastership, since 2008. Special Mastership differs from general receivership in that the mission of the person appointed to run the business is to safeguard the public interest rather than that of creditors. Superior Court has appointed Jonathan Savage as Landmark's Special Master.

“Throughout the Mastership process, we have sought to implement efficiencies to keep Landmark Medical Center a viable operation and this decision is a continuation of that goal,” said Bill Fischer, spokesperson for Landmark Medical Center. “That said, a decision like this is never easy, but it is necessary to do what we can to protect the viability of the hospital in the long term. This implementation will not affect patient care.” 

The workforce reduction, implemented by Savage, was contemplated well before the Court’s approval of a Management Advisory Agreement with Prime Healthcare Services, Fischer said.

Prime Healthcare made its bid to buy Landmark in September after it became clear Steward Healthcare was backing out of its deal to purchase the hospital.

All 31 employees will receive a week’s severance pay and three months of benefits.