Trumbull Regional Medical Center diverting ambulances to other hospitals

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – First News has learned ambulances are being diverted from Trumbull Regional Medical Center to other area hospitals.

WKBN was told that the emergency room at the Steward-owned hospital is still open, however, the focus is on stabilizing and transferring the patient elsewhere. Scheduled surgeries and diagnostics are still taking place at TRMC but ambulances will go to nearby hospitals.

“My gripe is that they had no forethought about it,” said Tom Connelly, president of the nurses union at TRMC. “None of my nurses know what’s going on, which is scary enough.”

Connelly said he’s most worried about people dying.

“They’ll be people that are going to be coming over there that need to come in, and even if it’s just nothing other than confusion as to where to get and go that delay in their treatment can cost them their lives,” he said.

Steward Health announced that it was closing Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital , along with other satellite medical facilities.

The medical facility closures come on the heels of the health system’s financial breakdown and Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in May. Many of the health systems hospitals across the east, south and southwest of the U.S. are in jeopardy of closing. Some have found buyers while others have closed.

Late last week, city and county leaders gathered to chart out the next steps in a rapidly moving effort to save Trumbull Regional. Movement is being made to help raise money for the $30 million needed to assist the nonprofit Warren City Hospital in acquiring Trumbull Regional.

Commissioners have already approved a measure to utilize $3 million to help the effort, and leaders are reaching out to foundations and community stakeholders to raise additional funds. A donation tab has been set up on the Trumbull County United Way website.

Like Trumbull Regional, St. Joseph is a verified Level III trauma center and is where most diversions are going.

A spokesperson for Mercy Health said they have seen increased volume at the nearby St. Joseph Warren Hospital. The spokesperson released the following statement:

“Mercy Health has plans in place to account for surges and increased volumes, which is a standard practice. We have seen an increase in volumes but nothing that we haven’t prepared for as part of those plans.”

Lane LifeTrans COO Tom Lambert says the diversions went well Wednesday.

“Mercy Health system has done a great job to step up and accommodate the ambulances and the increase in the volume so hopefully we can keep that running smoothly as possible but that’s a lot of moving parts for the hospital system,” Lambert said.

If Mercy Health gets full, he says there may be a delay in care — something many are worried about.

Lambert says to avoid straining the hospital systems. If it’s something minor go to urgent care or primary physicians.

A community rally to ‘Save Our Hospitals’ is happening tonight. It’s at 7 p.m. at the intersection of East Market Street and *Homewood Avenue Southeast in Warren, which is near Trumbull Regional Medical Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Check back here for updates on this developing story.

Kristen Hephner contributed to this report.

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