FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Marion County officials are continuing discussions about what will be next after Fairmont Regional Medical Center’s closure.
Alecto Healthcare Services announced Tuesday the hospital will close after an unsuccessful search for a new owner.
Lloyd White, the administrator of the Marion County Health Department, said the county is trying to prevent a bad situation from getting worse.
“It’s devastating not only to our county but to surrounding counties that utilize those services, the impact is far and wide,” he said. “For example, EMS. They’re going to have to increase their staffing, the transport times are going to be far greater.”
White said the health department will do its best to address health care needs.
“Quite frankly, without a hospital here, we’re going to see an increase in mortality and morbidity,” he added.
Fairmont City Councilmember Barry Bledsoe said the impact will only get deeper over time.
“It’s going to impact everybody from the suppliers who deal with them, from the customers that come in and buy their lunch. A lot of these people may end up moving, and I hope they don’t,” he said.
“I hope this hospital will be saved, but right now there doesn’t seem to be anything positive on the horizon. Who knows how many people will end up moving because they don’t have a job around here.”
Joe Letnuanchyn, the president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” increasing costs with Medicare, Medicaid and PEIA are part of the reason why health care systems have struggled.