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Forum Health report: Keep it intact
The study by the Chartis Group was commissioned by the Ohio attorney general in 2007.
YOUNGSTOWN — A report on the status of health care in the Mahoning Valley, and where Forum Health fits into its future, was to be made public this morning.
The study, by the Chartis Group, a national consulting firm that specializes in the health care field, was commissioned by the Ohio attorney general’s office in 2007.
The Service Employees International Union, District 1199, which represents 1,400 service and technical employees at Forum Health, expects the report on the financial viability of health care in the Mahoning Valley to say that access to health care would be best served by keeping the Forum Health system intact.
Jeff Weiss, a consultant for SEIU, said the union, which was a member of the attorney general’s task force, was “very supportive” of an outside group analyzing health care in the Mahoning Valley.
Based on preliminary findings revealed to the task force in February, Weiss believes that the Chartis report will mirror SEIU’s long-held contention that it is both financially viable and good for the community for Forum Health to remain intact.
The final task force meeting was to be this morning in Youngstown, after which the Chartis report would be made public, according to a spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
“We believe there is a way for Forum Health to stay together and provide health care, including Northside Medical Center,” said John Burant, District 1199’s hospital division director, during a meeting Tuesday with The Vindicator editorial board.
Weiss said the Chartis study looked at two basic issues: finances, or can Forum Health as now constituted generate enough money to survive; and how would its demise affect access to health care for the community.
Based on a meeting with Forum Health management Monday, however, it seemed the hospital system’s management team is at odds with what the Chartis report’s preliminary conclusions were in February, said Jennifer Farmer, SEIU spokeswoman.
Forum officials would not comment on the report before its release. However, spokeswoman Trish Hrina said the Forum board chairman, Parry Hassleman, would be available to answer questions after officials had examined the report.
A week ago, Forum Health said it would close a medical-surgical unit at Northside on April 30. A hospital spokeswoman said plans call for the unit to reopen when patient volumes pick up. SEIU’s Erin Kramer said the union was caught off guard by Forum’s announcement because hospital officials said last year that a financial turnaround effort created a $16.6 million operating profit through the first 10 months of the year.
SEIU’s contract with Forum Health expires Oct. 1. Burant said SEIU would be “reasonable” going into negotiations, with an eye toward protecting pensions and health care benefits.
However, in a Monday meeting with Forum management, SEIU asked for a commitment from management to keep Forum Health together. Lowell Johnson, Forum Health chief executive officer, would not make that commitment, which is a major issue for the union, Burant said.
alcorn@vindy.com