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Effort aims to save Forum
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
YOUNGSTOWN
Mark Meszaros is urging the public to get involved in trying to save Forum Health by signing his on-line petition.
“A decision is overdue from the bankruptcy court. I feel it’s time to act and show the decision-makers how critical the hospital system is to our community,” said Meszaros, a resident of Campus Health Care Center on Colonial Drive.
To that end, he has established a Web site, saveforumhealth.com, on which he is asking area residents to register their support for keeping Forum Health alive and together.
Forum Health’s major facilities are Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland. The health-care system, which has about 3,500 employes, filed March 16, 2009, for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which provides for reorganization.
“As one of millions of Americans without health insurance, I’ve found myself benefiting from both area hospitals: Forum and Humility of Mary Health Partners’ St. Elizabeth Health Center. Having spent significant time in and out of a coma, you can imagine the six- figure hospital bills. Grateful can’t begin to express how thankful I am to all the employees of the Forum Health system,” Meszaros, 52, said.
“I hope my petition will serve to show Forum’s creditors how valuable this institution is to our community,” said Meszaros, who plans to be at Northside at noon today to pass out fliers and cards to publicize his Forum Web site.
In response to the petition drive, Forum Health officials, in a press release Monday, said the health-care system is a “valued community asset worthy of advocacy from anyone who wishes to support it. It’s an example of why our management team is working so hard with all parties in the search for the best possible outcome to a very complex situation.SDRq