UVM Health cuts 76 positions

BURLINGTON, Vt. | On Tuesday, University of Vermont Health informed employees that 142 positions have been eliminated. Of those, 76 positions have been permanently eliminated, and 66 will be posted as new roles with restructured job descriptions. The majority of these workforce reductions are in areas not providing direct patient care, with targeted clinical changes where necessary. UVM Health also notified additional employees that the health system is undertaking a reorganization of their positions or departments. The actions are part of a larger and urgent effort to address significant financial shortfalls, improve sustainability, and ensure long-term access to high-quality health care across the region, officials said. Tuesday's actions, which are happening systemwide in Vermont and Northern New York, support the following ongoing goals: -Continue to align services and capacity with patient demand. -Reduce administrative complexity and duplication. -Consolidate certain functions to operate more efficiently. -Improve how teams work together to provide care. The health system's HR team is working with affected employees, offering transition support and opportunities to pursue other roles within the organization. The team is also engaging with union partners and ensuring employees receive the support and protections outlined in their contracts. "These are extremely difficult decisions because of their impact on our valued colleagues," said UVM Health Chief Executive Officer Stephen Leffler, MD. "We must make these hard choices to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care that is accessible and more affordable for the communities we serve." ADDRESSING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGE These changes are necessary to address financial and operational pressures that UVM Health is facing, along with hospitals and health systems nationwide. The health system is facing a projected $300+ million financial gap over the next three years. Since January, UVM Health has seen financial losses that amount to roughly $460,000 per day. There are significant efforts already underway across the organization to begin addressing this gap, including: -Reducing temporary contract "locum" and "traveler" staff (providers, nursing and non-nursing). -Pausing discretionary spending. -Right-sizing operations to hospitals' daily patient census. -Reducing scheduling backlogs and improving patient access in areas like radiology and endoscopy. -Pausing variable pay for leaders. -Transforming clinical schedules system-wide to increase patient access to care. The changes also address the organization's broader affordability goals by achieving greater operational efficiency. ONGOING FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY UVM Health is continuing a yearslong effort to reduce administrative expenses across the health system. -In July 2025, the system eliminated 146 roles – 77 of which were filled – mostly in "shared service" administrative support functions. -That built on earlier actions the health system took throughout the year to gradually cut several hundred primarily non-direct patient care roles. -Late last year, multiple senior leadership positions were eliminated as part of a restructuring at the UVM Health system level. LOOKING AHEAD This sustainability work will continue over the next several years, in response to anticipated shifts in reimbursement for patient care and the need to embrace a new model for health care providers, here and across the country. UVM Health expects additional actions will be needed over time, along with continued focus on protecting access to care, maintaining quality and safety and improving affordability. "These steps are necessary to address the financial realities facing health care today," Dr. Leffler said. "They are part of a longer-term effort to build a more sustainable system that can continue to serve our communities for years to come." LOCAL IMPACTS Michelle LeBeau, president of the University of Vermont Health Network's Alice Hyde Medical Center (AHMC) and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), issued the following statement about University of Vermont Health's system-wide workforce reduction and restructure: "Our organization continues to make thoughtful and - at times, difficult - decisions to ensure we can continue meeting the health care needs of the communities we serve. "Today's announcement of the elimination of positions at all levels of the organization, impacting 142 people - 30 at Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital - is part of our health system's broader effort to enhance access to affordable care across the region while strengthening our financial stability, including the reduction of a $300 million budget gap projected over the next three fiscal years. "The impact of this work will be felt across the region. Locally, we are transitioning our blood product acquisition to the American Red Cross to continue the Adirondack Blood Donor Center's legacy of securing a steady and readily available supply of blood and blood products. Leadership teams and departments that serve the entire health system are being redesigned and schedules realigned to better meet patient demand. "Most importantly, I feel the human impact of today's announcement. The 142 people affected by this decision are our friends, colleagues and coworkers. Their contributions have made a difference in the lives of our patients and in those who were fortunate enough to work by their sides. Their absence will be felt. Human Resources and our union partners are providing assistance as they work through this transition. "While these are truly difficult times for health care, our commitment to the people and communities we serve remains unchanged. Every day, extraordinary people come together to care for our patients; dedicated to moving forward and to honoring our long-standing commitment to be here for the communities we serve – today and for generations to come." Learn more at uvmhealth.org/NNYToday.

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UVM Health cuts 76 positions

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