“We are not in a position to negotiate patient safety.” That was the response of Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen to State Senator Michele Brooks’s suggestion of more flexibility when it comes to allowing Sharon Regional Hospital to reopen.

Senator Brooks questioned Dr. Bogen during Wednesday’s Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing for the Department of Health. Senator Brooks, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, asked Dr. Bogen why it seems that hospitals that are already open are permitted to remain operating while they correct issues, while closed hospitals must make the corrections before the health department allows them to open.

Brooks was referencing Sharon Regional Hospital, which was taken over by the Tenor Health Foundation after former owner Steward Health closed it in January as part of a bankruptcy proceeding.

Tenor Health has been waiting for the state health department’s permission to resume operations.

"During the review process, we actually categorized the issues into two separate categories. One that would impact the reopening and ones that would be delayed and addressed afterward,” Dr. Bogen told the committee. “It's not that they have to fix every issue at this moment. They have to fix the ones related to safety, and the onus is on them to do that."

Dr. Bogen told Senator Brooks that her department has allowed as much flexibility as it can to ensure that when Sharon Regional reopens, it does so safely, as required by law.

Senator Brooks commented that people are crossing the state line, going to Ohio for health care, referencing one report that someone with a ruptured appendix waited for ten hours in an emergency room before being treated.

Dr. Bogen was also questioned about the time her staff is putting in to hasten Sharon Regional’s reopening.

"Our staff has worked every single day to be responsive and available, including weekends and evenings,” Dr. Bogen replied. “Over 100 emails and many phone calls; we remain available via phone or email, and we've been working very, very closely with them to expedite [the process] as quickly as we can. But we are not in a position to negotiate patient safety."

"I don't think anyone is asking to negotiate patient safety. I think perhaps there are things that could be more flexible. I think it's a shame that people are having to go to Ohio for health care,” Brooks replied.