Columbus firm buys Beeghly Oaks facility

Beeghly Oaks’ new owner is a Campbell Memorial High School graduate

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Beeghly Oaks, a 140-bed long-term care facility, is the first Forum Health property to be sold since the company earlier this year put all of its assets on the market.

Forum’s Board of Trustees approved the sale of Beeghly to Vrable Healthcare Companies, a Columbus-based firm, in late August, a spokeswoman said.

Forum’s announcement Wednesday afternoon did not reveal how much money it received for Beeghly Oaks, when ownership of the property was transferred, nor if Vrable Companies is for-profit or nonprofit.

No other information than that included in the Forum announcement was available. Attempts to call Vrable’s headquarters in Columbus were unsuccessful.

Allan K. Vrable, a Youngstown area native, is owner, president and chief executive officer of Vrable Healthcare Companies.

In February, Vrable bought Pembrooke Place, a long-term care facility in Youngstown.

According to Vrable Healthcare’s Web site, “Pembrooke Place is developing a completely modern, state-of-the-art Rehab Unit. It will have private rooms, private bathrooms and today's latest technology. This newly decorated unit will be modeled after a sister facility that is a leader in joint, hip, knee, cardiac and neurological rehab in Central Ohio.”

Forum statement

“We are pleased for Beeghly Oaks’ employees, residents and their families,” said Dr. Keith T. Ghezzi, interim president and chief executive officer of Forum.

“Vrable brings to Beeghly Oaks a commitment to compassionate care and deep roots in this community that will only enhance its reputation for providing excellent care in a warm, family environment,” Dr. Ghezzi said.

Vrable’s six Ohio properties have a total of 600 beds and 1,000 employees. The firm’s other properties are in Berea, Columbus, Upper Arlington, Gallipolis and Minster.

His former firm, Vrable Healthcare Services, provided pharmacy services to many clinical clients, including those at Beeghly Oaks.

Background

Vrable, a 1969 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School and 1973 graduate of Youngstown State University, has been in the health-care field for 30 years.

With a degree in pharmacy from the Ohio State University School of Pharmacy, Vrable has owned and operated pharmacy practices in nursing homes, a long-term care center, a long-term medical supply company and diagnostic laboratory and respiratory companies.

Quoted in the Forum announcement, Vrable said: “I have many relatives in the Youngstown area. I’m delighted to form this new relationship with Beeghly Oaks, which was one of the top five facilities among my 250 pharmacy clients.”

Noting that he lived just behind Beeghly Oaks when he studied at YSU, Vrable said, “There is a lot of pride involved in this.”

alcorn@vindy.com