Wellspring Partners, a health care consulting firm based in Chicago, has been hired by the Blue Mountain Health System to stop its facilities - Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton hospitals - from operating in the red.

Mark Gregson, interim CEO at Blue Mountain, said under the Wellspring plan, no layoffs occurred at either of the two hospitals. In fact, he said, expansion of employee ranks and services is being seen.

He said it is absolutely not true that the Palmerton Hospital would be closing.