This is a week to celebrate in the Purple City.
How often could you say that during the last few months?
Monday’s announcement that East Ohio Hospital, LLC, purchased the former East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry with a goal of reopening it as a medical facility was a boon for many.
Martins Ferry, in particular, will benefit on a number of fronts, from increased water sales and tax revenue to, most importantly, a full-service hospital within the city limits.
Mayor John Davies, who hit the ground running upon EORH’s closure in an effort to find some entity to come in and fill an obvious need, was ecstatic at the final result.
“This is a great thing for the Ohio Valley and a tremendous thing for the city of Martins Ferry,” Davies said.
The fact that Bernie Albertini, R.Ph., MBA, FACHE, will serve as the chief operating officer of the facility adds further validity to the move. Albertini previously worked at both EORH and OVMC for 20 years, most recently as the chief administration officer.
He knows the area, understands its medical needs, and is ready to help East Ohio Hospital provide such.
“I am very excited to return to the Ohio Valley and to help lead the reopening of the former East Ohio Regional Hospital,” Albertini said through a press release. “From the time the hospital was founded by Dr. Wilson in 1096, community-based care has been at the heart of our tradition of healing. The outpouring of community support and excitement for this announcement has been nothing short of incredible.”
And with good reason.
Filling a Major Need
When Davies first took office last winter, he knew the importance of getting the hospital reopened. Keep in mind, this was long before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the potential need for additional hospital beds.
He knew the dangerous pitfalls lying in wait down the road with the eventual closure of the westbound lane through Wheeling Tunnel. In an emergency, when every second counts, having to fight through traffic to get to Wheeling Hospital, or travel to Steubenville or Barnesville, could mean the difference between life and death.
Thankfully that scenario will no longer come to fruition.
“Transportation time, you’d be looking at 20-40 minutes to get to Wheeling in that scenario,” Davies said. “If you’re having a heart attack or a stroke, every second is crucial and can mean life or death. Getting to the Ferry hospital is five minutes, at worst.”
Not only that, but the city has a large elderly population. Some still drive while others don’t. But given the close proximity of the former EORH facility, they could walk.
Ohio residents in other surrounding communities also will benefit from the decreased transportation time in both emergency and non-emergency situations.
Seeking Some Concessions
The facility needs upgrades. That was known from the start of the search to find a purchaser. East Ohio Hospitals plans for the facility to aid area citizens for decades to come. To do so, they requested a little assistance from the city.
A temporary tax break is being sought to enable needed upgrades to be made.
The city, for its part, considered and is going ahead both with tax relief and a break on utility costs.
“We have incentives; they aren’t finalized yet, but we’ve brought it to council’s attention, and they’ve agreed to help the hospital become successful and upgrade the facility,” Davies said. “It won’t be all at one time, but it will be done over a period of time.”
Davies noted the percentage of break on income tax, plus the utility discount aren’t known yet, but the city is willing to work with East Ohio Hospitals. The move benefits all.
Mental health and continuous care were going to be offered at the facility regardless. But for general practices and a full-service emergency room to reopen, the new owners needed those concessions.
It wasn’t difficult for Davies and fellow city leaders to see the big picture and agree to work with the hospital.
“A little bit of something is a whole lot better than nothing,” Davies admitted in terms of offering a tax break. “We’re happy to help out the hospital, especially for our citizens and the elderly community. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Breathing a Sigh of Relief
Tax and utility revenue will soon return to the city. That’s the bonus on top of the return of quality, and nearby, medical care.
It also allows city leaders to rejuvenate attracting other businesses to town.
Having a full-service medical facility, plus all of its employees needing food, gas, entertainment, and other shopping opportunities, makes the city all the more enticing to potential businesses looking to start-up, expand, or relocate.
We have a hospital, a good police department, a newer school, and we have everything to offer,” Davies said. “We have a state-of-the-art water plant with the best water in the valley.”
The mayor was banging the drum early and loudly, championing this cause. But he was quick to thank members of his team who played a role in helping realize this outcome: Service Director Andy Sutak, Water Superintendent Bill Suto, Betty Suto, Paul Stecker, the Rev. William Webster, along with former Belmont Co. Job and Family Services director Vince Giangelli and Mike Bianconi.
“I’m pretty happy and impressed with our team and the effort we put forward,” Davies said. “We never had anyone on our team doubt that it would be back, and finally, we were proven right.”
