Trumbull Regional and Hillside hospitals begin closing process

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – In an unexpected blow to 740 workers at Trumbull Regional Medical Center and 168 at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, Steward Health Care announced Wednesday that they are beginning the process of closing both facilities.

Several local Steward Health satellite facilities are also set to close.

According to bankruptcy court documents, six satellite locations are included in the closure and will follow the same timeline as Hillside and TRMC.

• Austintown Imaging
• Austintown Rehabilitation Services
• Center for Radiology
• Elm Road Rehabilitation Services
• Trumbull Regional Medical Center for Surgery
• Trumbull Regional Medical Center Sleep Lab.

In a notice sent to WKBN 27 First News, Steward representatives said while they were actively seeking a buyer for the hospitals, those efforts failed.

“However, despite every effort made to attract qualified buyers, there have been no actionable offers received for Trumbull Regional or Hillside. 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 read.

Closing procedures will commence on September 19.

Although neither location is closing for 30 days, Ohio Nurses Association President Rick Lucas says neither location will admit patients beginning Thursday.

“The amount of beds that are going to be available for patients in their community is going to be immediately impacted starting tomorrow,” Lucas said.

Steward officials said they will work with patients and families to help them find alternative care.

“This is a challenging and unfortunate situation, but we will continue to keep patient safety and care at the forefront of everything we do. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available,” Steward officials wrote. “We remain hopeful we can find an alternative solution that would keep the hospitals open and preserve the jobs of our dedicated team members.”

The Ohio Nurses Association, which represents 22 nurses at Hillside Rehabilitation Center, issued a statement following the announcement saying workers at the Howland facility were “blindsided” when they were told the facility was closing.

“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,” Lucas said. “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.”

He’s concerned it’ll have an immediate bottleneck effect on the remaining healthcare systems in the Valley.

“It really should be a fundamental right and something that we expect here in the State of Ohio, that somebody wouldn’t have to drive 30, 60, 90 or more minutes to receive care and, you know, potentially have a bad outcome and not be able to receive emergency care, maternity care, cardiac care,” Lucas said.

The union is calling on elected officials to step in and take immediate action to keep the hospital open.

Ohio Representative Nick Santucci, R-64th district, issued a statement saying he has been in contact with Ohio Attorney General David Yost’s office to try and find a way to support the hospital and its patients. He said he plans to work with economic development partners to support displaced workers with the goal of finding an alternative hospital system to serve the area.

“I am disappointed in the mismanagement of Steward Health Systems and am heartbroken to hear of Trumbull Memorial & Hillside Hospital’s closing. This departure will leave a void in Trumbull County that we will need to fill to ensure our residents have access to healthcare,” Santucci said.

Mercy Health released a statement indicating their hospital system is preparing for the closure.

“In light of Steward Health Care System’s difficult decision to close Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, Mercy Health is prepared and stands ready to help offer a s smooth transition for patients during this time of change,” the statement said.

Warren City Hospital officials also released a statement saying they are still optimistic about saving and upgrading the hospital.

“Trumbull Regional has a strong staff of doctors and employees. We are eager to work with them and the operating specialists who are looking to manage the hospital. It is still our intent to get the job done,” the statement read.

While employees at both facilities were notified of the closures on Wednesday, court filings mandate that unions associated with both facilities, the Ohio Attorney General, municipality leaders for both facilities and regulatory authorities must also be notified.

The closures come on the heels of the health system’s financial breakdown and Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in May. The system recently closed hospitals in Massachusetts and another was taken over the state.

Steward operates, or once operated, more than 30 hospitals across Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Massachusetts.

Check back here for updates on this developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.