Two United States Senators from opposite sides of the aisle came together today, as Ohio's Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman wrote a joint letter urging those in charge to delay closing Affinity Medical Center in Massillon "until a new healthcare provider is identified and confirmed."
In a letter to Quorum Health Corporation CEO Thomas D. Miller and Affinity CEO John P. Walsh, the senators urged all involved to "take a step back from its announced closure timeline and instead engage with local stakeholders on potential means to continue operations at the hospital in a way that protects the hospital’s patients as well as its dedicated employees."
Both Brown and Portman seem concerned that Massillon residents will not have a viable alternative for Healthcare once the hospital closes in March, further writing:
We were surprised this announcement, and are concerned that Quorum’s current timeline gives the local community – including patients and their families, employees, and other local stakeholders – less than a month to find alternative sources for both critical health care services and employment opportunities. This announcement and lack of contingency planning and cooperation with the local community threatens the health and financial wellbeing of the residents of Massillon, including the hospital’s committed workforce.
The announcement of Affinity's closure last week has sparked a wide range of reactions from local and national leaders alike: Members of Nurses United were joined Tuesday by former Cleveland Mayor and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich to protest the move.