Catholic Health is laying off 1% of its more than 17,000 employees, the Rockville Centre-based health system said Wednesday.

Catholic Health operates six Long Island hospitals, the second highest number after Northwell Health, as well as outpatient locations. Officials declined to say whether clinical staff — such as doctors, nurses and physician assistants — were among those who lost their jobs, or give a precise number.

"To navigate the unprecedented challenges facing health care, we’ve implemented a plan to reduce expenses while continuing to invest in our future growth," Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Catholic Health’s president and CEO, said in a statement. "As part of this effort, difficult decisions were made to reduce the workforce at various Catholic Health facilities, while providing affected employees with comprehensive support."

He said "the reductions impacted approximately 1% of employees."

Audited financial statements from the nonprofit Catholic Health show $3.48 million in operating losses in 2024, on $3.39 billion in revenues, following $61.33 million in operating income in 2023 on $3.15 billion in revenues.

Catholic Health, which is under the sponsorship of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, operates Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Flower Hill and St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage.

The health system also had 22 ambulatory care locations, 14 outpatient rehabilitation locations, a hospice and a home health service at the end of 2024, according to its 2024 annual report. It also runs three nursing homes, the system’s website says. The annual report lists more than 17,500 employees and says Catholic Health is the third largest employer on Long Island.

There were nearly 86,000 Catholic Health hospital admissions in 2024, and more than half a million outpatient visits, the annual report states.