MISHAWAKA — Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center announced Tuesday it is cutting 60 jobs and closing part of its Mishawaka hospital sooner than expected.

But the cuts aren't just at Mishawaka's downtown hospital; they also came from the South Bend and Plymouth campuses as well.

The changes are part of the hospital system's transition to a new facility next year near Main Street and Douglas Road.

Tuesday, administrators announced all inpatient services will move to the system's South Bend hospital campus. Only some outpatient programs and the emergency room will stay open until the new hospital is finished next year on Mishawaka's north side.

And the transition will cost jobs — from top level management, including the hospital's executive vice president, on down. Those 60 workers were notified Tuesday as they walked into work.

After a special meeting Tuesday morning, department heads and other managers wouldn't talk about it.

But in a statement, President and CEO Nancy Hellyer said the hospital system was eliminating 60 positions not only from the existing Mishawaka hospital, but from South Bend and Plymouth, too, in an effort to merge "like departments."

In that statement, Hellyer said "everyone impacted by this transition deserves our thanks and respect for their contributions to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and we will assist them to new opportunities as much as possible.”

The new hospital on Mishawaka's north side is expected to open in the fall of 2009. A spokesperson told WSBT News they may end up keeping the emergency room open downtown even after the new hospital is finished, depending on demand.

The spokesperson also said their goal is to not have any more job cuts as the transition continues.

Click on the link in the Related Content box to read the full statement issued by SJRMC President and CEO Nancy Hellyer.