Construction at Northside is suspended

YOUNGSTOWN — Forum Health has agreed to temporarily suspend construction and renovations for its new maternity unit at its Northside Medical Center, effective today, at the request of Ohio Atty. Gen. Marc Dann, Forum Health announced Sunday.

The attorney general’s office said the request is intended to allow state officials time to review the proposed sale of Beeghly Medical Park to Akron Children’s Hospital. Forum said it is committed to full cooperation with state officials as they review proposed sales and other changes at its facilities.

“We hope that our voluntary, temporary suspension of construction will allow for an expedited review process that will pave the way for construction on a new children’s hospital that will bring additional jobs and specialty pediatric health to our community,” said Dr. Keith T. Ghezzi, Forum Health’s president and chief executive officer, in a construction update memorandum to Forum staff.

The sale of Beeghly Medical Park will enable Forum to return maternity and women’s health services to Northside Medical Center and improve health care for Youngstown and Liberty Township, Dr. Ghezzi said.

Meanwhile, the Women and Infants Pavilion at Beeghly Medical Park in Boardman remains open for comprehensive maternity and newborn care, and Forum intends to ensure a smooth transition of those services from Beeghly to Northside, Dr. Ghezzi said.