COLUMBIA -- Boone Hospital Center Administrators laid off 35 employees and reduced the hours of 80 hospital workers.

This is the second round of layoffs at the hospital this year. Hospital officials blame today’s layoffs and cutbacks on “a decline in in-patient admissions”.

Boone Hospital Center President Dan Rothery says the staff reductions will not affect the hospital’s quality of care. Rothery says more than half of the layoffs are in management and administrative staff positions.

He says a decline in inpatient admissions shows many people are skipping doctor’s visits to save some money during these tough economic times.

With fewer patients, Rothery says the only choice was to reduce hospital staff.

Rothery said, “To not take this action would be irresponsible and imprudent and might further jeopardize the jobs of every employee at Boone Hospital.  If you think of all of the businesses that are being impacted across the country right now, you are seeing business leaders take the same approach.”

Rothery recently held a series of informational meetings with hospital employees. Rothery said employees were shocked when they saw the data showing large reductions in the hospital census.

Hospital Administrators say these recent layoffs may not be permanent.

Some of these laid off employees could see their jobs again, if the hospital sees a sudden, sharp increase in its census.

Rothery said, “The straight forward answer is, Mark, absolutely.  We would be in a great position and love to hire them back.  These are valued co-workers that leaving today, sadly.  We respect them deeply and would love to bring them back.”

Boone Hospital Center employs about 2000 people. In July, Hospital Officials laid off 48 employees when they closed their Patient Psychiatric Care Wing.

Rothery says there are no plans to fill any vacant positions. He says the staff to patient ratio at the hospital remains right where it should be at about five to one.

Rothery says a pool of about 50 nurses is available to work at Boone Hospital Center to help with a flu outbreak or other large-scale emergency.