BOARDMAN MVEDC honors hosptial systems

Forum and Humility of Mary employ 10,300 people in the area.
THE VINDICATOR
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
BOARDMAN -- The two locally based hospital systems are big spenders, and the Mahoning Valley appreciates it.
Forum Health and Humility of Mary Health Partners were honored Wednesday at the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp.'s annual Salute to Business, Industry and Labor.
MVEDC, which provides loans to companies and runs two industrial parks, recognized the health care systems for their investment in the community.
Forum is in the midst of a $100 million plan to improve its facilities. Improvements that are planned or completed include a parking deck at Northside Medical Center, an addition for cardiac and pediatric treatment at Northside and Tod Children's hospitals and a new building for obstetrics at its Beeghly Medical Park in Boardman.
Humility of Mary has $60 million worth of work either completed or planned. It has upgraded its emergency and diagnostic center in Boardman, built an addition for cardiac and vascular treatment at St. Elizabeth Health Center and is upgrading its operating rooms and medical units at St. Joseph Health Center.
Break with tradition
Over the years, MVEDC has honored its person of the year at the annual dinner. Last year, it broke away from that tradition and honored United Auto Workers locals 1112 and 1714 at the General Motors' Lordstown complex.
Charles Wern Jr., president of the MVEDC board, said the board decided to honor two entities again this year because of the unusually large investments that the hospital systems are making.
Mary Yost, the featured speaker, noted that hospitals often are overlooked as key parts of an area's economy.
Yost, vice president of public affairs for the Ohio Hospital Association, said the 10,300 employees at Forum and Humility of Mary clearly show how important the two systems are to the Mahoning Valley. The association also believes that one additional job is created in the community to support each job at a health care system, she said.
N. Kristopher Hoce, Forum president and chief executive, said the organization is growing because it is locally based and so is able to respond to the needs of the community.
Robert Shroder, Humility of Mary president and chief executive, said he believes strongly in the quality of care provided in the Mahoning Valley.
"There is no reason to leave the Mahoning Valley for your health care," he said.
Charity care increases
One concern locally is the growing amount of free health care Humility of Mary provides, he said. Charity care increased from $22 million in 2001 to $28 million last year and is expected to be $36 million this year, he said.
Shroder said he is concerned about what will happen if this trend continues and encouraged those in attendance to continue working to create jobs.
Don French, MVEDC executive director, said the agency has provided $6 million in financing for 40 companies this year, creating 460 jobs. By the end of the year, MVEDC should provide money to nearly 50 companies, which will be an above-average year, he said.
shilling@vindy.com