N. Ind. hospital freezes staff pay, cuts for execs

SOUTH BEND – A northern Indiana hospital has announced a pay freeze for employees as it prepares to open a new $355 million facility later this year.

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center of South Bend said Friday that it also was making an 8 percent reduction in executive pay and cutting the hours of some departments. No layoffs were announced.

Hospital officials said it has faced a growing number of uninsured patients and that Medicare and Medicaid payments have not kept pace with expenses.

The St. Joseph announcement came a week after nearby Elkhart General Hospital said most of its staff would have their pay cut by 4 percent.

St. Joseph plans a December opening for its new hospital in Mishawaka, Ind.