Medical workers rally to save jobs at Trumbull Regional, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital
Recently, Steward Health Care announced plans to close Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, affecting hundreds of healthcare workers and patients in the Mahoning Valley area.
To prevent the medical centers from closing, local leaders are looking to secure $30 million and the United Way of Trumbull County collected over $15,843.
Trumbull County medical professionals, political leaders, union representatives, auto workers and more gathered at Trumbull Regional Medical Center to voice their concerns about the future of the two local hospitals.
The crowd held up signs with pleas like “Save Trumbull Hospital” and “Save Us So We Can Save You.”
They chanted “Save Our Hospitals” and cheered when horns blared in support from passing cars along East Market Street in Warren.
According to Tom Conelly, vice president of AFSCME Ohio Council 8 in the Mahoning Valley region, these local workers gathered to show why the hospitals are essential to the county’s health and well being.
“Everyone that’s here is connected with Trumbull Regional in some way. Some of us have had our children born here, watched our parents die here,” Conelly said. “We’re trying to work on getting a buyer, somebody to change us from profit to not for profit so that we can run this hospital and keep it going the way it was meant to be run.”
Conelly thanked Warren mayor Doug Franklin as well as county commissioners and Sen. Sherrod Brown for their efforts.
“I believe that the money’s there for us to do this, and we’re going to get it done. We have some very, very good people that are working on it,” he said.
Members of the Ohio Nurses Association are calling on Gov. Mike DeWine to use emergency funds to ensure the hospitals remain open.
Previously, DeWine released a statement saying the state was “deeply saddened by this news,” but referenced other local hospitals as viable options for treatment.
“We stand together committed to preserving Hillside and Trumbull Regional,” said Rick Lucas with ONA. “The real tragedy is while Mayor Franklin is fighting tooth and nail for us, Gov. DeWine is not. Where are you DeWine?”
ONA, SEIU District 1199 and AFSCME Ohio Council 8, as well as registered nurses like Marianne Day, led the event.
“I think all my coworkers can agree, we’re a family and we have the support from our community. I’ve been an ICU nurse here for 15 years,” Day said. “This was my first job interview, my first job and my only job. I still plan on it being my only job. I’m not going anywhere unless they make me.”
Day and others emphasized how the Trumbull County community needs two hospitals for treatment.
Many argued Youngstown’s hospitals are too far to drive to for Trumbull County rsidents who relied on Trumbull Regional Medical Center for over a century. Hillside is also essential for patients in Trumbull County who need access to services like acute rehabilitation.
Mayor Doug Franklin thanked Trumbull County commissioners and the city council for coming out of summer recess.
“We dust ourselves off and get back in the race. It’s in our DNA in this community. Stay strong and stay united,” said Mayor Franklin. “The greatest asset this hospital has is you - doctors, nurses, medical crew - that asset is not for sale. We will keep fighting for you.”
Sean Grayson, president of AFSCME Ohio Council 8, said community members can still donate directly to the United Way of Trumbull County to secure the future of the hospitals and their staff.
If you can’t donate right now, Grayson said they’re asking community members to call both Gov. Mike DeWine’s office at (614) 644-4357 and JobsOHIO at (614) 350-0378.
“This group of employees doesn’t deserve to be treated this way,” Grayson said.
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This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 9:36 AM.
