FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Some of the 600 workers who could lose their jobs at the Fairmont Regional Medical Center participated in a job fair put on by Mon Health System Monday in Fairmont.
Lynda Grubb has worked at the Fairmont Regional for five years. She and the other workers received 60-day layoff notices last week. Hospital owner Alecto has said it plans to close the facility after being unsuccessful in finding a buyer.
“Right now, I work a midnight shift in patient registration at the emergency room full-time,” Grubb said. “I would love the same position. I would love to stay at my hospital.”
Grubb said if the hospital does close it would be a tremendous hardship for area residents.
“We have people we see every week, one of these days they’re absolutely going to need somebody there,” Grubb said. “They won’t be able to make it Morgantown or Clarksburg and if they get there they won’t be able to get home.”
Gov. Jim Justice was in Fairmont last week. He pledged to work hard to keep the hospital open but offered no guarantees.
Mon Health’s Kristina Adrian said the system has a variety of jobs available.
“We have all positions open right now at all of our facilities,” Adrian said. “Not just Mon Health Medical Center, but Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Preston Memorial Hospital, The Village and Grafton City Hospital.”
Adrian said open positions are food service-related, house keep and medical professionals. For RNs and LPNs there is a $10,000 bonus for positions at select hospitals.
“For the $10,000 bonus, we are offering that to RNs and LPNs in specific units at specific locations,” Adrian said. “At Mon Health Medical Center and The Village at Harrison Point.”