MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — It’s a sad case of déjà vu for the Ohio Valley with East Ohio Regional Hospital (EORH) officially closing its doors Thursday. The hospital also closed in 2019 when it was under different management.
Outside the now-shuttered facility, a sign on the door starkly reads: “Hospital closed! Please go to the nearest hospital Trinity, Reynolds or Wheeling!” This abrupt closure marks a turbulent period for the institution, which had only re-opened four years ago following a 2019 shutdown.
The closure means approximately 500 local, Ohio Valley jobs are now lost. Jeff Felton, Director of Belmont County Job and Family Services told River News Network earlier this week that a human resources officer from the hospital had reached out to Mike Schlanz, Director of the DJFS Ohio Means Jobs office in Martins Ferry, regarding the then-impending layoffs. Felton emphasized that under state law, major layoffs must be accompanied by a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) notice—a requirement EORH had not yet been filed as of early Friday morning.
Felton said Belmont County DJFS and its Ohio Means Jobs program is prepared to help workers and to provide information on applying for unemployment benefits, accessing retraining programs, and securing food and health assistance such as SNAP and Medicaid.
“Our goal is to help these individuals navigate the transition with as little added stress as possible,” Felton added.
Felton said his office and Ohio Means Jobs has identified approximately 125 open healthcare jobs in the Ohio Valley area that EORH could consider. At Wednesday’s Belmont County Commissioners’ meeting, Felton and commissioners said some EORH workers had already interviewed for these jobs.
The hospital had been grappling with severe financial difficulties over recent months. EORH faced challenges including unpaid employee wages and mounting back taxes. The situation deteriorated further last Thursday when EORH CEO/COO Dr. John Johnson announced plans to lay off staff in an internal email, stating, “This step will further assist with the prioritization of payroll disbursement.”
Adding to the woes, the East Ohio Regional Pharmacy announced it would close, further limiting access to essential healthcare services in the area.
The unfolding crisis has not only rattled officials but has also left employees feeling betrayed. On March 12, several hospital workers took to the streets in protest over unpaid wages.
On March 5, Belmont County Treasurer Kathy Kelich announced that her office and the hospital had reached a repayment plan for delinquent taxes, which would have required the hospital to make monthly payments of $33,000 for three years. The inability to meet these financial obligations has clearly contributed to the current crisis.
As Martins Ferry and the surrounding Ohio Valley communities grapple with the loss of one of their key healthcare providers, local leaders and residents alike are left wondering about the long-term impact on access to medical services and employment in the region.
For more information on available benefits and support services, affected employees are encouraged to contact Belmont County DJFS or visit the official website listed below for guidance and where appointments can be scheduled and applications submitted online.
Belmont County DJFS website or by phone (740) 695-1075
Ohio Means Jobs at their website or by phone at (740) 633-1357
