Cape Fear Valley Health layoffs impact Bladen County employees

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Five Cape Fear Valley Health employees in Bladen County are among approximately 200 positions eliminated across the regional healthcare system as officials respond to mounting financial pressures.

The job reductions, which took effect July 1, impact employees across hospitals, outpatient facilities and support services. Cape Fear Valley Health said about 2% of the workforce at each of its hospitals was impacted. In Bladen County, the layoffs include employees at Cape Fear Valley Bladen County Hospital, outpatient facilities and support services.

Overall, the health system eliminated approximately 200 positions, including 138 occupied jobs and 62 vacant positions. Cape Fear Valley Health employs more than 9,000 people throughout southeastern North Carolina.

The health system cited declining federal reimbursements, rising healthcare costs and uncertainty surrounding future funding as the reasons behind the workforce reduction.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer Dan Weatherly said the decision was difficult but necessary. “These are difficult decisions, and they are never made lightly,” Weatherly said. “They impact colleagues who have contributed so much to our patients and to our mission. However, these decisions reflect the challenging environment facing healthcare organizations across the country.”

Cape Fear Valley Health said it will offer career transition assistance, priority consideration for other positions within the organization and separation packages for eligible employees.

Officials said the layoffs follow months of other cost-saving efforts that were unable to offset increasing financial challenges. The health system emphasized that the reductions are intended to protect frontline and direct patient care services while strengthening the organization’s long-term financial stability.

Cape Fear Valley Health also said major expansion projects, including the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine and a new medical office building, will continue because they are funded through grants, philanthropic donations and capital funds, which cannot legally be used for payroll or daily operating expenses.

The nonprofit health system operates eight hospitals and more than 100 outpatient clinics, serving more than 1 million inpatient and outpatient visits each year across the region. Officials said the workforce reductions reflect broader financial challenges facing healthcare systems nationwide.