Regional health center lays off 65 workers in May

Georgetown-based Lone Star Circle of Care, a federally qualified health provider for under-insured and uninsured patients, continued a tumultuous month with the May 9 announcement that CEO Pete Perialas Jr. was stepping down after 12 years of leading the organization. In a news release, LSCC stated Perialas had retired.

LSCC also announced it had named Rhonda Mundhenk interim CEO. Mundhenk served as chief operations officer prior to her appointment.

"Thanks to the leadership and vision of Mr. Perialas, LSCC grew from one small clinic to a large, federally qualified health center with a network of clinics across Central Texas serving over 100,000 patients," said Jack Hunnicutt, chairman of LSCC's board of directors.

LSCC has clinics throughout Bastrop, Burnet, Travis and Williamson counties. The organization offers primary care, women's health, psychiatry, dentistry, optometry and pharmacy services.

The announcement came one week after news surfaced that LSCC laid off 65 employees May 1 and 2. Jen Barrera, executive vice president of corporate services, said the layoffs were focused primarily on administration staff and were done in order to preserve financial resources for clinical operations. She also stated "no one event" contributed to the financial situation.

Lone Star Circle of Care officials would not elaborate on the possibility of future layoffs.