Health care provider CentraCare to cut 535 staff

Health care system CentraCare announced on Tuesday it’s cutting hundreds of staff.

CentraCare spokesperson Karna Fronden said the cuts affect 535 employees at 44 different locations. About 70 percent are administrative and support roles, and the rest are patient care positions.

Fronden said the final number will depend on how many workers apply for and fill other open positions in the organization, “as we are prioritizing internal placement whenever possible.”

CentraCare says it's responding to “significant external pressures,” including rising costs and reimbursement rates that no longer cover the cost of care.

“To safeguard the organization’s stability and to continue delivering high-quality care, we have made difficult but necessary staffing adjustments,” the company stated.  

Based in St. Cloud, CentraCare is central Minnesota's largest health care provider and employs more than 11,000 people. It operates 10 hospitals, including St. Cloud and Willmar, and more than 30 clinics.

It also recently partnered with the University of Minnesota Medical School to open a new regional campus in St. Cloud.