MedicAlert cuts 31 jobs

MedicAlert Foundation announced Monday that it has cut 31 of its 90 employees because of reduced demand for its services.

The foundation, which produces bracelets and other items with medical information for emergency responders, said the decision came after a review of its global business.

The lost jobs were “across the organization,” said Jillian Price, marketing communications manager, in an email. They include manufacturing, administration and the call center for the nonprofit, which is headquartered on Colorado Avenue in central Turlock.

“We are constantly making decisions to improve the cost and quality of our services,” said Dan McCormick, interim chief executive officer, in a news release. “The totality of decisions made today, while significant, will enable MedicAlert to sustain and improve upon the important work it does around the world now and in the future.”

MedicAlert was founded in 1956 by Turlock physician Marion Collins and his wife, Chrissie, after their teenage daughter, Linda, had a severe allergic reaction to a tetanus anti-toxin. It now has several million members around the world.

The bracelets and pendants are the most familiar items, but MedicAlert also has higher-tech products. Everything is linked to health records and an around-the-clock call center.

The release said the downsizing, effective Monday, “comes on the heels of a complete business review that demonstrated a need for the foundation to better adapt to the peaks and valleys of the business cycle and the evolving needs of its members, affiliates and partners.”

The foundation also cited “significant new competition” in the health care business. It will continue to be based in Turlock.

MedicAlert said the affected employees received job placement help as part of their severance packages.

“We place great value on our employees and the work they do on a daily basis for our customers,” board Chairman Calvin Bland said in the release. “Therefore, we wanted to do everything we could to make this difficult transition as heartfelt and compassionate as possible.”

Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth said the city also would try to help the employees find new jobs.

“MedicAlert’s unique work provides a diverse strength to Turlock’s economy, and MedicAlert’s employees, both current and former, remain a strong part of our Turlock community,” he said.

For more on MedicAlert, visit www.medicalert.org.

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 3:57 PM with the headline "MedicAlert cuts 31 jobs."