T-L Photo/KAREN FATULA East Ohio Regional Hospital’s planned closure has elicited a variety of emotions from area residents, ranging from sadness to anger.

WHEELING — Area agencies and facilities are reaching out with potential job opportunities for medical personnel who are set to lose their jobs as a result of the impending closure of East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry and Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling.

Daniel C. Dunmyer, president and CEO of OVMC and EORH, announced Wednesday that the two facilities will close in two to three months. In response, officials of Wheeling Hospital, WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale and Elmhurst, an assisted living residence in Wheeling, are inviting affected medical professionals to consider job listings for their respective sites.

In Belmont County, Commissioner Josh Meyer said he is working with Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Vince Gianangeli and with Mike Schlanz, workforce supervisor of Ohio Means Jobs in Belmont County to help displaced hospital employees find work.

“We’ve been working on contingency plans to aid in any way we can anybody that might be losing their job at the hospital (EORH) and doing our part to fill the gap. We’ve also been in contact with the state DJFS to seek assistance,” he said. “We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to assist in any way we can. At the end, I’m hopeful that someone will come in and buy the hospital.”

He added they are exploring setting up a job fair specific to hospital workers.

Wheeling Hospital CEO Douglass Harrison issued a statement Thursday directed to the OVMC-EORH staff and the community.

“On behalf of the board of directors and the administrative team at Wheeling Hospital, we express our heartfelt concern to the physicians and staff at Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital during this difficult time. It is unfortunate that Alecto Healthcare Services, LLC, a for-profit company based out of Irvine, California, has chosen to close both of these hospitals,” he said.

“OVMC, which opened as City Hospital in 1890, had a long history of caring for Wheeling residents. And EORH provided services to Martins Ferry and beyond beginning 113 years ago,” he continued. “To see them both close is disheartening for the employees and those they served.

“Rest assured that Wheeling Hospital stands ready to continue to serve the community through a faith-based, mission-driven approach, as it has done for nearly 170 years,” Harrison added. “We encourage all OVMC-EORH staff and physicians affected by this closure to reach out to us and visit our website at www.wheelinghospital.org for a list of job openings. We are more than willing to assist you in your dedication to serve those in need.

“Together, with the support of the community, we will continue to deliver the highest quality health care that this region deserves and expects,” Harrison concluded.

Cole Elliott, human resources director at WVU Medicine Reynolds, also issued a statement Thursday regarding the situation.

“WVU Medicine is accepting applications and wants to work with the staff of OVMC and EORH,” Elliott said.

“So many of our employees here are former employees from (OVMC),” said Karin Janiszewski, director of corporate communications. “They’re like family to us. It’s really hard on them, so we’ll do whatever we can do to help.”

Elliott said Reynolds was “exploring any option to try and make them whole,” referring to possible compensation packages for incoming employees.

Employees of OVMC and EORH can send applications and resumes to RMHrecruiting@wvumedicine.org or visit the job board at WVUmedicine.org/careers. If there is not a local position available, the resume and application will be shared with the WVU Medicine Health System statewide, Elliott said.

Elliott also said OVMC-EORH employees also are invited to attend WVU Medicine Reynolds’ employee picnic between 6 and 8 p.m. today at Glen Dale Park to speak with a human resources representative or to submit a resume. That invitation was also posted on the hospital’s Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Jamie Crow, executive director of Elmhurst, The House of Friendship, said Thursday that she is inviting registered nurses and licensed practical nurses affected by the anticipated closure of OVMC and EORH to join the staff of the nonprofit assisted living residence.

“I truly understand what the employees and their families of these two long-standing institutions are going through,” Crow said. “At Elmhurst we understand families, not only because we care for older adults and have a relationship with their families, but also because our employees are a team, a family.

“We want these folks to know that Elmhurst would welcome RNs and LPNs to join our team,” she added.

Crow said job applications are available at Elmhurst from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on its website at www.elmhurstpch.com.

“I hope those affected by this news will find employment and perhaps look to Elmhurst as that new employer,” she said, referring to employees of OVMC and EORH.