Ryan meets with official of Ardent, Forum suitor

Staff report

WASHINGTON

Photo

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-17)

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan met Tuesday with David T. Vandewater, president and CEO of Ardent Health Services, a Tennessee-based hospital company that is considering purchasing Forum Health.

It’s the first confirmation that Ardent is interested in Forum Health, the health system that remains in Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy.

The last public statement from Forum Health said negotiations were under way with a potential buyer. The potential buyer was widely believed to be Ardent, a for-profit company with its headquarters in Nashville.

Ardent is believed to be the only suitor for Forum Health.

Forum and Ardent officials have refused to comment on the negotiations.

But Ryan of Niles, D-17th, on Tuesday reaffirmed his office’s unconditional assistance to Forum Health and its employees with regard to both short and long-term solutions for the sustainability of the regional health system.

“Today’s meeting went very well,” Ryan said. “I made it clear that I hoped all parties could reach a mutually-beneficial agreement as soon as possible – and that everyone in the Mahoning Valley has a stake in Forum’s future.”

The congressman continued: “I recognize and appreciate Mr. Vandewater’s interest in Forum and his willingness to invest in these hospitals, their employees and our community. I also reached out to union officials representing Forum’s employees to reiterate my support for the workers and stress the importance for a speedy resolution so we can move past this difficult chapter in Forum’s history.”

Forum filed for bankruptcy March 16, 2009. It operates Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Trumbull Memorial in Warren and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland.