Like most businesses and organizations these days, the Butler Health System is feeling the effects of lagging economy.

John Righetti, BHS spokesman, said Friday that the health system has been studying ways to raise about $8 million in additional revenue for the 2008-09 fiscal year budget.

The administration is attempting this through actually raising about $4 million in revenues, the sources of which Righetti said are proprietary, and another $4 million through cost savings.

The cost savings side of this project involves a restructuring of work and personnel.

"We are shifting some staff from one job to another or to different hours," Righetti said. "But there will be no loss of nurses at the bedside."

Eighteen clinical and nonclinical (not working with patient care) positions will be eliminated, which Righetti pointed out is less than 1 percent of BHS's overall workforce of about 1,800.

Starting in July, the restructuring program also will eliminate 16 management positions, most through attrition.

"We are also looking at all costs to see if there are any we don't need anymore, reopening vendor contracts and a salary freeze will go into effect for the administrative team in the 2009-10 budget," Righetti said.

"The thing you have to remember is that all hospitals and health care organizations are going through this; for the first time health care is being affected by a recession with people not going to their doctors and avoiding help until they really need it," he said.

"As for Butler (Health System), we were in a very good financial situation to begin with," Righetti said. "We're in the black and we are working to make sure we stay there."