Empire Health Services

A company that owns two Spokane-area hospitals says it lost $7 million last year and must cut 130 jobs. Empire Health Services officials announced the pending layoffs recently that are part of a restructuring to save more than $10 million at Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center. Empire officials say the financial problems stem from delays in selling the hospitals to Community Health Systems. The $172 million transaction is expected to be completed this summer. About 90 of the job cuts will be among nursing assistants, raising concern that the upcoming cuts will affect patient care. But hospital officials say eliminating the positions will bring staffing levels in line with national averages.