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September 26, 2026

Takeaways from the most recent news in the technology and policies shaping healthcare.

Hospitals

Kaiser Permanente to Cut 147 Jobs Across California

Kaiser Permanente is laying off 147 employees across California, the Oakland-based system disclosed in regulatory filings dated Sept. 21, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The cuts touch 16 locations in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento and San Diego counties, and take effect Nov. 20.

A Kaiser spokesperson told Becker's the eliminated positions involve business and administrative functions rather than direct patient care. That distinction matters: like many large systems, Kaiser is trimming back-office overhead while trying to protect frontline clinical staffing amid tight margins and rising labor and supply costs.

The move fits a broader pattern of workforce reductions across nonprofit health systems over the past two years, as operators consolidate corporate and support roles, lean on automation, and centralize administrative work. For a system as large as Kaiser, 147 jobs is modest in scale, but the filing signals continued pressure to control costs even at financially stable organizations.

More in Hospitals

Hospitals

Loma Linda CEO Turns Personal Injuries Into a Lesson on Resilience

Loma Linda University Health CEO Anthony Hilliard, MD, says recovering from serious personal injuries taught him that resilience and comebacks are core leadership skills.

Why it matters: As hospital executives navigate relentless financial and operational pressure, personal resilience is increasingly seen as a defining leadership trait.

Hospitals

UPMC Children's Critical Care Physician Killed in Stabbing

Details on the case remain limited as the investigation continues.

Why it matters: The loss of a senior pediatric critical care physician and educator affects patient care teams, trainees, and families tied to one of the nation's largest health systems.

Hospitals

Penn Medicine and IBX Team Up to Build 18+ Surgery Centers

Penn Medicine, Independence Blue Cross and Regent Surgical Solutions are forming a new company to build at least 18 ambulatory surgery centers across three states.

Why it matters: A health system and its insurer jointly building surgery centers signals how aligned incentives are accelerating the shift of procedures to lower-cost outpatient sites.