Prime Healthcare Illinois Layoffs – 100 Roles Cut
Prime Healthcare is shedding over 100 jobs across eight Illinois hospitals following its acquisition from Ascension, impacting less than 1% of its workforce. The layoffs, starting last Friday and extending through July, are a result of consolidating roles and aligning services after the purchase of the Illinois facilities. While the company says the majority of the cuts are in non-patient-facing positions, the move has sparked scrutiny, with Illinois senators raising concerns over access to care. Prime Healthcare, which finalized the $375 million deal in March, is encouraging affected employees to apply for other roles within the network. News Directory 3 reports on the unfolding situation. What strategic moves will Prime Healthcare make to reassure the community regarding its commitment to quality healthcare? Discover what’s next…
Prime Healthcare Announces Illinois Hospital Job Cuts After Ascension Acquisition
Updated June 11, 2025
Prime Healthcare is implementing job cuts at eight illinois hospitals it recently acquired from Ascension. A company spokesperson confirmed that over 100 positions are being eliminated as part of a consolidation effort. The reductions, which began Friday and will continue through July, impact fewer than 1% of the approximately 14,000 employees across the facilities.
According to the spokesperson, the job cuts primarily target positions that were either duplicated or did not align with the new care model and service offerings following the acquisition. The majority of affected roles are not directly involved in patient care, and no union positions are impacted. Prime Healthcare is encouraging affected employees to apply for more than 900 open positions within its Illinois network.
Prime Healthcare, based in Ontario, California, finalized its acquisition of nine Illinois hospitals and four care sites from Ascension in March for about $375 million. One facility, Ascension St. Elizabeth in chicago, was closed prior to the deal’s completion. The acquisition marked Prime’s largest expansion to date, with the company committing to invest $250 million in facility upgrades and technology improvements.
Despite this investment, Prime Healthcare has faced scrutiny for service line closures since the acquisition. Illinois senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth voiced concerns in a letter to prime CEO Prem Reddy after pediatric services were suspended at one hospital, a trauma designation was withdrawn at another, and obstetric and maternal care was canceled at a third facility in Kankakee.
“Prime Healthcare has only operated these eight Illinois hospitals for two months, and there are already profound concerns about patients losing access to care,” said the senators.
Other health systems, including PeaceHealth, Mass General Brigham, and Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network, have also announced job cuts amid ongoing financial challenges in the healthcare industry. Prime Healthcare’s focus remains on streamlining operations and fulfilling its investment commitments in the acquired Illinois facilities, despite reported losses of nearly $200 million in the past year.
What’s next
prime Healthcare will continue to integrate the Illinois hospitals into its network while addressing concerns raised by lawmakers and community members regarding access to care. The health system aims to balance financial stability with its commitment to providing quality healthcare services in the region.