Physician and commissioners weigh in on uncertainty of Valley healthcare
As the uncertainty at Insight Trumbull hospital bleeds into the minds of many, the state of health care in the Valley is on shaky ground.
"It's just not a good situation," said Local Infectious Disease Doctor Dee Banks. "It's also a perfect storm for an unhealthy situation."
With the local hospital shutting down services and firing healthcare workers, where does this leave care in the Youngstown-Warren region?
Banks as well as two county commissioners, are facing hard questions about the future of care in the Valley, especially if these facilities' services don't return.
Banks said the valley is vulnerable, the future is in question, and unforeseen emergencies could become a much bigger threat for those who have to access emergency and healthcare services elsewhere.
"Let's say we have a big bus accident or plane accident around here and you don't have a lot of hospitals," she said, "I don't know that any healthcare facility can say with 100% certainty that we can handle everything."
She said healthcare is also a huge education resource that allows people to better advocate for their well-being and understand illness. With another facility not operating to provide essential needs, there's a void.
Mahoning Commissioner Carol Rimedio Righetti said she doesn't see how Mercy Health and urgent care offices could absorb it.
"Trumbull has over 200,000 residents. We [Mahonigng] have over 200,000 residents," she said. "I don't know how this is going to work."
She added that St. Elizabeth's emergency room downtown is already overcrowded at times.
Meanwhile, Trumbull Commissioner Rick Hernandez said the region can't beat a declining population and attract businesses without access to services.
"When moving into an area, you look at all those different facets," he said. "It just hit us like a ton of bricks."
Banks added, "It also puts an undue burden on the surrounding facilities, who are only maybe given two or three days' notice that this is going to happen."
She said although the nearby health centers work to provide the best care they can, "it's hard to do when you give them 48 hours to make changes to see more patients because a facility has shut down."
