PeaceHealth

PeaceHealth announced it plans to eliminate 94 positions across its system, including 26 jobs in Bellingham spanning hospice care, cancer research, mental health therapists, clinical social workers, nursing leadership and various patient support roles. Some Bellingham cuts are scheduled to be effective April 12, according to the article, and seven roles will be cut at the Chestnut Building and seven in Sedro-Woolley (Skagit County). The system-wide reductions come amid financial challenges cited by CEO Sarah Ness and follow prior rounds of layoffs in 2025 and an earlier mass layoff of 241 positions; PeaceHealth said final decisions rest with the organization even when outside consultants are involved. The health system notified the state under Washington’s WARN Act because the scale meets the mass layoff threshold. The company described the restructuring as part of redesigning teams and workflows under its One PeaceHealth Care Delivery and Service Model.

PeaceHealth announced a system-wide workforce reduction of 2.5% across its roughly 16,000-employee network, with data provided to the state indicating a "mass layoff" of 241 positions in Washington beginning Dec. 27, 2025, including more than 50 cuts at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. The majority of impacted roles are non-clinical and administrative, concentrated in Vancouver and shared services teams, though cuts also include specific clinical-adjacent roles and hospital leaders at multiple facilities (Sedro-Woolley, Friday Harbor). Leadership said the decision follows previous reductions (a 1% cut in May and 18 leadership roles in September) and is driven by financial and operational challenges amid a major hospital expansion and rising costs. PeaceHealth framed the move as necessary after exhausting alternatives; the system plans the reductions to take effect on Dec. 27, 2025. The reported Washington-specific figure (241) and local impacts (50+ in Bellingham) come from PeaceHealth’s filings/data to the state.