Public can sound off on Forum at forum

The city is concerned about access to health care if Forum scales back.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mayor Jay Williams and city council's public health committee will conduct a public forum April 26 to hear residents' comments on the impact of the possible downsizing or closing of Northside Medical Center and other Forum facilities.
The public meeting will be 5:30 p.m. in city council chambers in the city building.
The decisions on the future configuration and location of Forum Health, now being considered by its board of trustees, are of great concern to the city, Williams said at a press conference Monday.
The primary issues are access to health care, particularly for those who are already under-served; and the estimated $2 million annual negative financial impact the closing of Northside would have on the city, the mayor said.
Forum Health trustees have projected losses of $60 million in 2006 unless the system is radically restructured and its unionized employees give about $25 million in concessions. Trustees said if action is not taken quickly, there is a danger that assets might have to be sold to repay bond holders.
Forum trustees have said everything about the health-care system is being evaluated and considered, including shifting programs and services to other facilities and downsizing or closing Northside.
"We understand it's a business decision. But what happens to Forum Health impacts the community too. We need to get accurate information. If the decision has been made, we can't be the last ones to know," Williams said.
What's being done
The mayor said he and other city officials have been in contact with Forum executives, employees and the unions that represent them and said they will continue to be involved.
Williams said he is contacting individual members of the Forum board of trustees has met with Regional Chamber officials to evaluate community impact issues should Northside close or be downsized.
At Monday's press conference, 3rd Ward Councilman Richard W. Atkinson asked Forum Health to "stretch out its arms to the community and unions. We should come out of this with a win-win situation."
"We know how devastating it would be to lose Forum Health. It's needed in this community," said Artis Gillam Sr., 1st Ward councilman.
In a letter to Dr. Keith Ghezzi, Forum Health president and chief executive officer, the Youngstown City District Board of Health said it has become increasingly alarmed and concerned about reports and rumors about possible closures, sale of assets, massive layoffs and/or bankruptcy of the health-care system.
What's sought
The letter, dated April 14, asked for a meeting with Forum trustees and/or some of their representatives soon.
The purposes of such a meeting, according to the health board's letter, include:
*To better understand how Forum will continue to provide health services to the city.
*To assist the health board in planning for any future contingencies so that it may assure quality and accessible health services.
*To be assured, if Forum trustees close or shrink its urban health care services, how Forum would continue to fulfill its obligations to provide "charitable care to persons in need in the community as a nonprofit corporation."
The Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents about 1,400 of Forum's 5,200 employees, said Monday it "fully supports the efforts of Mayor Williams to convene a dialogue between the leadership of Forum Health and the city of Youngstown."
David Regan, District 1199 president, offered to share with the city the union's internal analysis and all information it has concerning the ongoing events at Forum.
alcorn@vindy.com