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Ohio Valley Medical Center Suspends Acute and Emergency Medical Services

Analysis  |  By Jack O'Brien  
   September 05, 2019

The West Virginia-based provider has struggled with mounting losses in recent years as well as the lack of an interested buyer.

Ohio Valley Medical Center (OVMC) suspended inpatient and emergency medical services at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, closing the hospital one month before it had planned to cease operations.

The unexpected closure came after OVMC suffered through more than $37 million in losses over the past two years and failed to secure an interested strategic partner, according to a press release

"Although we made every effort to interest WVU Medicine and Wheeling Hospital in taking over part of our downtown campus, they simply were not interested in our facilities that provide acute and emergency services," OVMC CEO Daniel Dunmyer said in a statement.

Related: North Carolina Hospital Misses Payroll, Might Close

Both organizations issued statements to WTOV expressing surprise at the sudden closure, highlighting OVMC's previous indication it would remain open until October 7.

The closure, which will affect around 1,000 jobs, also prompted responses from Rep. David McKinley, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, and Wheeling City Mayor Glenn Elliott.

In a post on OVMC's Facebook page Thursday morning, the organization thanked community members who came to give the hospital a send off. 

"The impact that you, as a community, have made on us is immeasurable. To our co-workers, who are our family, this is devastating, [however], the bonds made in these walls will never be broken. It was our greatest honor to serve you for the past 120 years."

The post noted that East Ohio Regional Hospital, also owned by California-based Alecto Healthcare Services, will remain open until October 7. 

Related: Despite Rural Hospital Crisis, Wyoming System Plows Ahead

Jack O'Brien is the Content Team Lead and Finance Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.


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