The region's hospitals shed the equivalent of 2,000 full-time positions in 2013, according to a newly released survey by the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania trade association. The employment decline — from 71,457 full-time equivalents to 69,439 — comes as hospitals work to reduce their costs in light of reduced payments from Medicare and other insurers, as well as other cuts, said Denis Lukes, vice president of financial services for the council. The report follows a survey last week by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania that found hospital employment statewide fell by 3,900 jobs in the 12 months ending in February.