The Rev. William O. Webster Jr. stands in the sanctuary of Grace Presbyterian Church in Martins Ferry where numerous people sought comfort after hearing about the planned East Ohio Regional Hospital closure.

By KAREN FATULA

and ROBERT A. DEFRANK

Times Leader Staff Writers

MARTINS FERRY — Shocked. Devastated. Sad. Angry. These are some of the words area leaders are using to describe reactions to the impending closure of East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry.

It was announced Wednesday that EORH and Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, both owned by California-based Alecto Healthcare Services, will close in 60-90 days.

The Rev. William O. Webster Jr. of Grace Presbyterian Church in Martins Ferry and a volunteer chaplain at EORH said losing the hospital hurts.

“I am sick and angry over the closure. I am devastated,” he said.

Webster also is the president of Project Forward, a Martins Ferry economic development board formed in the wake of a fire that destroyed several businesses in 2016. He noted that the EORH closure will have a negative impact on the entire area. Belmont Community Hospital in Bellaire, owned by Wheeling Hospital, closed its doors on April 5 after 105 years of service to that community. EORH has served the Martins Ferry area for 113 years.

“East Ohio is the city’s largest employer. It will devastate the river communities, but it will also have a ripple effect throughout the valley,” Webster said.

He said many people in his church will be directly affected by the closure.

“A quarter of my congregation is connected to the hospital in some way. Some are employees. Some have been patients,” he said.

He added that the community is reaching out to him at Grace Presbyterian Church for solace. The sanctuary is being kept open for anyone who would like to pray about the matter.

“People have been coming into our sanctuary all morning to talk about it,” he said.

For Martins Ferry City Schools Superintendent Jim Fogle, news of the closure hit close to home. His wife works as a registered dietician at EORH. He said losing the hospital will hurt the area as a whole.

“It will have a big impact on our community and on our students,” he said.

Fogle pointed out that this type of news is not something a community wants to hear.

“You never want to see a big entity like a hospital leave a community. It’s a shame. It’s sad. Jobs will be lost,” Fogle said.

The closure also will have a direct impact on some school workers.

“Several families connected to our school are employees at the hospital,” Fogle said, noting the district will support those touched by the loss. “We’re always here for our community.”

State Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, said news of the planned closure is disheartening.

“Any closure has a negative impact on communities,” he said.

He pointed to a changing health care system as something communities are struggling with.

“The dynamics in health care are a nationwide issue,” he said, adding that recruiting medical talent can be difficult. “Getting doctors to work in this area is a tall task. A lot of doctors do not want to work in rural communities.”

He pointed to alternatives to hospitals that some communities are trying.

“Some communities are talking about smaller facilities.” he said.

Belmont County Commissioner Josh Meyer said he believes EORH has potential and that county leaders are taking action.

“It’ll be a significant impact to this area as far as health care goes. I think East Ohio’s an important cog in the health care field. I think it’s absolutely a necessary hospital. I’m still optimistic that there will be someone that will buy it. I’ve been on the phone quite a bit the last day or two, talking with quite a few people at the state level and talking with some other hospital administrators. I’m still optimistic that something positive will come out of it and someone may come in and buy it,” he said.

Meyer said he did not believe the hospital could continue operations without corporate backing.

“It’s an awful situation for the individuals that are employed at the hospital. It’s a small hospital, and everybody knows everyone down there,” he added. “They’re a family. A lot of lives will be affected.”

Meyer pointed out that if EORH does close, Barnesville Hospital would be the only remaining hospital inside Belmont County.

“As far as Barnesville, that far to the west, they may pick up more stuff,” Meyer said. “Wheeling Hospital, which is inundated now and the patient load now, will pick up.”

Trinity Health Systems has a hospital in Steubenville, and Harrison Community Hospital, owned by Wheeling Hospital, is located closer to Belmont County in Cadiz.

Belmont County Auditor Anthony Rocchio said the planned closure will not impact the county tax base.

“Hospitals, they’re exempt. We don’t really get tax dollars from them. Tax for 2018 was in question because of the sale. There was a sale from Martins Ferry hospital to their entity,” he said. “The hospital was for numerous years before 2018, they got an exemption, so taxation’s not a huge impact.”

Rocchio added that if the building is purchased and used for some purpose other than a hospital, it would be subject to taxation. He also said that loss of employment for the health care workers and any difficulties residents might face obtaining health care may have an indirect effect on the county finances.

Meyer said the city of Martins Ferry likely will see the most direct impact due to the loss of income tax revenue and consumption of water and other services.