02.14.12 University Medical Center officials are working to "re-engineer" operations to offset the forthcoming cuts at LSU hospitals and their clinics and the loss of about 80 local employees, hospital administrators said.

The changes will take effect March 4 and are part of $4.2 million in budget cuts for UMC approved by the LSU Health Care Services Division Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 as part of LSU's efforts to cut $29 million to $34 million so it can end the fiscal year with a balanced budget.

HCSD, which oversees the hospitals, also has submitted for state civil service approval an employee layoff plan, which affects about 645 positions.