BEDFORD, Ohio — Emergency services at University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center shut down in August of last year. The city then filed a restraining order to try and prevent the closure, and since then, both sides have been in conversations through the court system.
"It's just a little encouraging that it's still going on and the judge has told both sides, 'You need to sit down and keep talking,'" Bedford Mayor Stan Koci told 3News.
That's the latest — a continuance in the case, with city officials staying cautiously optimistic that they can retain emergency services in their own community. The mayor as well as City Manager Michael S. Mallis want these vital resources to remain in their community, with Koci saying there is a need that's become apparent since the ER closed.
"Fourteen or 15 beds [were lost with the closure]," he said, "and you take 14 or 15 patients and put them on another emergency department, that's just going to overwhelm them."
WKYC reached out to University Hospitals, which responded, in part, "The decision to stay this matter for 90 days provides UH and the City of Bedford time to work collaboratively. Our top priority as a health system is to provide the safest, highest quality care for our patients."
Both sides mentioned that while emergency care is no longer available, the building itself remains open for a variety of services as they work toward a resolution for the future of UH Bedford.
"Ultimately, I think this extended stay gives both parties the ability to continue exploring a resolution," Mallis added.