By Amy Sienicki
 
January 14, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford is laying off at least 20 employees, and has issued a hiring freeze.
 
Asante Health Systems, which runs RVMC and Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, made the announcement in a memo sent out to employees Wednesday.
 
The layoffs are coming from the human resources, communications, marketing, and other non medical-related departments. Along with the cuts, the company will not fill more than 80 open positions, and all directors and managers will not get a three percent annual wage increase for 2009. The memo states that additional cuts could be made.
 
According to Worksource Oregon, about 11,000 jobs in Jackson County are in the healthcare industry.
 
"In terms of the overall healthcare industry, we are showing some job growth... It's really one of the few areas that's still up over the year in terms of job growth," says Guy Tauer with the Oregon Employment Department.