Forum Health says its hospitals made money in April

Forum Health reiterated Thursday that its three hospitals made money in April and that it has no plans to close Northside Medical Center.

Walter Pishkur, Forum chief executive, issued the updates in a news release. The news was essentially the same as he reported in a news conference two weeks ago.

For the first time in several years, Northside, Trumbull Memorial Hospital and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital all made money on their operating budgets in April, Pishkur said. In addition, the three hospitals have met Forum’s financial goals for the past 11 weeks.

Pishkur also said Forum has presented a plan to its creditors to dispose of Northside. He stressed, however, that it was only a contingency plan and Forum plans to continue operating the hospital.

Northside is being largely blamed for operating losses in recent years that forced Forum to file for bankruptcy.

In order to reduce expenses, Forum is continuing negotiations on new labor contacts with its unions, Pishkur said. He said “forward progress” is being made with all of them.

Forum has reached a tentative agreement with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 1,285 workers at Trumbull Memorial and Hillside.

Pishkur said Forum is continuing to work on a reorganization plan and is continuing its normal operations.