Forum is overstating its projected loss amount, a union official says.

Forum is overstating its projected loss amount, a union official says.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
and WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITERS
YOUNGSTOWN -- If Forum Health significantly downsizes or goes out of business, it will impact the Mahoning Valley more than anyone realizes, a children's case manager said at a public forum about the health-care system.
Chrissy Heineman of Valley Counseling spoke at the Wednesday forum conducted by Mayor Jay Williams and city council's public health committee in council chambers. About 75 people packed the room.
Forum Health projects a $60 million loss this year, and officials say if significant changes aren't made, including about $24 million in concessions from union employees in the next 30 days, the health system could go out of business.
"When did someone decide that money was more important than human life?" Heineman said. "I understand a hospital is a business and there's a bottom line ... [but] someone has to stand up and say, 'This is plain wrong.'"
Employs thousands
Forum employs about 5,200, and its facilities are Northside Medical Center and Tod Children's Hospital in Youngstown, Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland, Beeghly Oaks in Boardman as well as Forum Health at Home and outreach laboratories.
Roxanne Diaz, a Forum Health registered nurse, said there is a national shortage of registered nurses, and those in the Forum Health system would have options outside the area if Northside and other facilities went out of business.
Diaz said, however, she and other Forum RNs love this area and don't want to leave.
She also said Forum's proposals to obtain employee concessions and to downsize its operations and work force is a temporary fix and won't solve its long-term financial problem.
Overstating projected loss?
Erin Kramer, a local organizer of the Service Employees International Union District 1199, that represents about 1,400 Forum workers, said Forum is grossly overstating its $60 million projected loss figure.
She also said without knowing the true amount of its financial problem, it is unreasonable for Forum to ask for "enormous unconditional concessions" from its employees.
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd and chairman of the legislative body's public health committee, said committee members are not choosing sides in the issue. But council wants to hear concerns and input from the public about Forum, one of Youngstown's largest employers, he said.
The mayor said he is concerned about the impact a restructuring at Forum Health would have on the city.
Williams is a member of Humility of Mary Health Partners' board of directors. HMHP operates St. Elizabeth Health Center, the only other full-service hospital in Youngstown.
Question about conflict
At the forum, Terry Esarco, president of the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition, asked Williams if serving as a HMHP director was a conflict of interest.
"It's a decision I struggled with because of [the Forum Health] situation, but I took the [HMHP] position in an attempt to avoid this happening again," Williams said. "It's important to not lose two health companies in the city. I don't see it as a conflict."
In a conference call Wednesday, David Regan, president of SEIU District 1199, said Forum Health views the situation as an "unprecedented opportunity to get concessions, whether they are required or not."
It is not in the best interest of this community to do harm to 5,200 jobs until Forum Health has done "due diligence," and assigned dollar value to everything in its report, not just to the concessions it wants, Regan said.
"We are rational, reasonable people, and we realize what's at stake here. But, the information we've been provided so far does not justify the conclusions" the board has drawn, Regan said.
Also Wednesday, HMHP issued a statement saying it has developed a short-term contingency plan that would address a rapid increase of demand for services at its facilities.
"Our contingency planning recognizes that, in the short term, changes at Forum Health could result in inconvenience and other challenges," said Robert Shroder, HMHP president and chief executive officer.