WARREN, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the state’s Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff have issued a joint statement on the announced closure of Steward Health Care's Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Warren, Ohio.
In their statement, DeWine and Vanderhoff said they were deeply saddened by the news, and that they take the loss of health care providers seriously.
“The corporate leadership of Steward Health Care must be held accountable to ensure they are actively working to support their local doctors while they work with patients and their families to find the best possible care alternative,” they said in the statement. “While they have committed to do so, we will actively work with the local health care community to ensure they properly follow through on that pledge.”
They say residents in the area can still be serviced by other hospitals close by, such as Mercy Health St. Joseph Hospital and Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Hospital in nearby Youngstown.
“We will continue to monitor this situation and provide whatever support we can for the region and its health care providers,” they said in the release.
The health care network just last week highlighted Trumbull Regional Medical Center’s national recognition for providing “high-quality stroke care.” The medical center received the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver quality achievement award from the American Heart Association.
According to the Associated Press, the health care network reached an agreement to sell its physician network to a private equity firm even as they are expected to head to a bankruptcy court judge Friday.
The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) said in a news release that the staff at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital were “blindsided” by the closure announcement.
“The closure of Hillside is a tragic result of greed-driven hospital executives, backed by private equity, who prioritize their yachts and private jets over patient care,” said Rick Lucas, ONA president and executive director, in the release. “This decision leaves our community without crucial rehabilitation services and forces our dedicated team of nurses and health professionals into unemployment due to Steward’s unchecked greed.”
ONA and the group representing registered nurses at Hillside—AFT—condemned the decision in the release and are asking that elected officials “take immediate steps to keep the hospital open.”
“After meeting with the Ohio Governor’s and Attorney General’s office, it’s clear no one is safeguarding our community or patients, which must change,” Lucas said in the release. “Steward’s closure is the final blow in a seven-year history of depriving the region access to vital care. It’s time to hold Steward—and other bad actors in the health care industry—accountable.”
The release from ONA also claims that Hillside’s staff was informed of a bankruptcy filing by Steward Health Care in May this year.
“ONA, AFT, and their legal team quickly filed a reservation of rights in response to an emergency motion by the debtors in an effort to preserve this critical community healthcare resource and protect jobs,” the release reads.
In a statement from a Steward Health Care spokesperson sent to Spectrum News 1, they say they are working to sell or transition the two facilities to new operations but that they have had "no actionable offers received" for either.
"Therefore, due to our significant cash constraints we are now in the regrettable but unavoidable situation where the process of closing the facilities must begin," the statement reads. "We remain hopeful we can find an alternative solution that would keep the hospitals open and preserve the jobs of our dedicated team members. We want to help save these hospitals and will continue to work with qualified bidders during this process."
They say they expect to start the closure process on or around Sept. 19 and that they are working with their patients and families to find best possibile alternatives for care. They say they are also working to support their employees during the transition.
"This is a challenging and unfortunate situation, but we will continue to keep patient safety and care at the forefront of everything we do," the statement reads. "Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available."
The Associated Press contributed to this article.