MALONE — Two North Country hospitals affiliated with the University of Vermont Health Network, including Alice Hyde Medical Center, announced layoffs in April,

A total of nine employees at Alice Hyde Medical Center, in Malone, and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, in Plattsburgh, were laid off on April 14th, according to a press release issued by the University of Vermont Health Network-Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.

In Monday’s statement on the elimination of the positions at both hospitals LeBeau pointed to rising health care costs and policy changes impacting the industry.

“Our commitment to care for the communities we serve requires us to continually evaluate, with purpose, the work we do and how we do it so that we can preserve access to care todayand for generations to come,” Michelle LeBeau, president of the UVM Health Network-AHMC and CVPH, said in the release, “As a result, we sometimes must make difficult decisions to deliver on that promise and on April 14, this meant eliminating nine positions at both Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Those affected by this decision were valued members of our team – our friends and colleagues – who have made a real difference to our patients during their time with us.”

As rural health care providers, the hospitals are accustomed to continually looking for better ways to provide quality care and make the best use of resources, according to the release.

“As our entire health system responds to unprecedented challenges including rising costs,and mounting regional, state and federal policy changes, we’re being even more deliberate

about decisions that protect access to care and support the people who provide it so we can continue to be here for the communities we serve,” LeBeau added.

The specific roles of those laid off were not detailed in Monday’s press release.

“We have been fortunate to have these roles and talented people in them. However, our focus must remain on providing essential services to our patients and continuing to

collaborate with our health system and community partners to be sure our patients’ needs are met,” LeBeau said.