Penn Highlands Clearfield in central Pennsylvania cutting 30 jobs, eliminating ICU citing cost

A central Pennsylvania hospital is cutting 30 jobs, not filling 11 others and reducing hours for 50 other workers.

Penn Highlands Clearfield also plans to eliminate its intensive care unit, which has typically housed only a handful of patients.

The hospital says the cuts will save about $3.1 million a year and help it deal with declining patient numbers, shorter hospital stays and declining revenues — including lower reimbursements from health insurance. About 65 percent of the hospital's revenue comes from Medicare and Medicaid.

The hospital, which opened in 1901, is part of the Penn Highlands Healthcare network. It's located about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Patients needing intensive care will be placed in new extensive care rooms being established on the hospital's fourth floor.