Perhaps it was a prophecy, or maybe only an expression of helpless hope on that final day in late September at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry, but today it serves as motivation for those who are working to make it come true.
“How about that? Is that not awesome? And, from what I have been told, someone did that on the final night the hospital was closed,” said Chief Operating Officer Bernie Albertini. “I saw that the first time I walked through, and it made my heart sink. It said everything to me about how the people felt about his place.
“I do get messages from former employees, and most of them have told me that they are willing to come help as volunteers. They don’t even want paid,” he said. “That right there shows the heart of what made this beat for so many years. There was something special with our employees.”
Albertini has been working feverishly to streamline the timeline for a step-by-step reopening of the medical facility and, although the to-do lists grow with each walkthrough, his optimism swells at the end of every 16-hour day.
“I know the building well,, and I have been in every room in the place,” Albertini said. “We did renovations to the buildings while I was there, but nothing really major. There was always a lot of painting and a lot of patching of the roof, but nothing major like what is about to happen.
“I know what needs done,” he added. “And it’s going to get done.”
Dollars and Sense
It looks like a hospital from the outside and while walking down the hallways, but when the guts are exposed, the “ahhh” turns into an “ohhh.”
But that is why Dr. John Johnson, a renowned psychiatrist and a hospital owner, and Albertini already have initiated conversations with a number of different construction consultants.
How many dollar bills will it take for East Ohio Regional Hospital to reopen this year? An exact amount at this time is unknown because the process is only two weeks old, but the number is expected to be between $30-$50 million.
“That estimate, I believe, is a credible number, but, to be honest, I am still in the process of getting quotes from a number of different vendors for the projects we recognize right now,” the COO said. “We are committed to using the local vendors when we can. I am a big proponent of getting at least three bids for the projects we have so there will an opportunity for every local company to be involved.”
One Step and Then Another
The emergency room and connected services, and that includes an estimated 65 beds, will open first. Not long after, that number is expected to grow to 85-90.
About a month later, the facility’s continuous care unit will reopen with 50 beds.
And, while new owner Dr. John Johnson is determined to establish psychiatric care and drug rehabilitation wings at EORH, the number of rooms in those areas has yet to be determined because of the need for extensive remodeling.
“He is a hospital guy and that helps a lot. He’s ready for the challenge,” Albertini said. “Now, if we would not have received the commitment from the city of Martins Ferry, Dr. Johnson’s approach likely would be a lot different. That meant a lot to him. Without that, it could still be a building at the end of a street that just changed owners.
“With the city’s support, that allows Dr. Johnson and the rest of us to move forward so we can do what we need to do,” he continued. “All of this work will allow us to get this hospital back open.”
Atop the priority list are the facility’s two chillers and six boilers.
“He did another walkthough this week, and Dr. Johnson has established an early priority list, and the building’s HVAC system is, right now, at the top of the list for obvious reasons,” Albertini explained. “It is hot in this building right now, but it was really cold in the beginning, too, so those systems are No. 1 and already in the works.”
Jobs and Off-Site, Too
There will be job growth in Martins Ferry thanks to Dr. Johnson’s decision to bring back an in-house laundry and a food service. The hospital also is planning to have remote locations along Ohio Route 7 in the near future.
“This project is similar to Christmas. You may see this beautiful box, but you still don’t know what’s inside,” Albertini said. “Everything could look great on the outside, but then you find that the guts are worn out, and that’s the case here.”
“There’s a lot of technology inside these buildings that were great when they were installed, but that happened a lot of years ago, and now it’s time to replace those things because of the efficiency that’s available these days,” he explained. “I know the building because of the time I have spent there. I’ve been in and out this building since 1998.”
In Tiltonsville, Albertini explained, will be a satellite location with a doctor and a nurse practitioner on duty.
“And we are looking at other locations, too, but there is a recognized need in Tiltonsville right now, so that is the first location on the list,” the COO reported. “And we plan to continue look for additional locations in the future; that’s for sure.
“We really want to do everything that needs done to operate a hospital to be done right here,” Albertini added. “Those decisions are only going to create more jobs. Before, the laundry was done in Pittsburgh, and it was taken out and brought back in each day, but there were issues. Dr. Johnson is adamant about bringing those kinds of services back onto this campus, and about being able to serve all of the people in this area.”
