Affinity Medical Center will stop admitting patients on Jan. 21, cease clinical services Feb. 4 and close its doors on March 6.

MASSILLON  As the community comes to grips with the news that Affinity Medical Center will shutter operations, locals are realizing the far-reaching impact the closure will have on a city that would be without a medical facility for the first time since 1910.

A statement issued by Affinity Chief Executive Officer John Walsh said operations will cease just before midnight Feb. 4.

Declining revenue paired with a highly competitive market led to financial loses each year for the past six years, a hospital news release said.

According to officials, patients receiving care at the 156-bed acute care hospital will continue to be served as the hospital begins to reduce the number of patients next week.

"Closing the hospital is an immensely difficult decision," Walsh said in the release. "We worked diligently to identify a regional partner to acquire the facility but were unsuccessful."

He said the area is fortunate to have nearby health systems, clinics and physician providers for continued access to local care.

That, however, isn't good enough for Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry who said it is critical for the city to have a hospital.

The mayor, who is a nurse, emphasized the importance of having a hospital in the community saying a few minutes can make all the difference in saving a person's life.

She is calling upon area physicians and local leaders such as Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce President Ted Herncane and Stark Development Board President Ray Hexamer to help determine what the city can do to keep a hospital in Massillon.

"It is a critical need in our city," the mayor said. "It's vital that we turn this around. We are going to find out what our options are and find a direction for us to move in."

The mayor was trying to organize a meeting with key people Friday afternoon.

"We have a lot of research to do," Catazaro-Perry said. "We are trying to muddle our way through this. We didn't have any advance notice."

Walsh called the mayor around 9:30 a.m. Friday with word of the shutdown, she said.

The loss of tax money and jobs, having another vacant building in the city, quality of life issues for residents, and the impact on the fire department's ability to quickly transport patients to a hospital are immediate concerns weighing on the city. Catazaro-Perry said her main focus is keeping a hospital here.

Employees losing jobs

Walsh said hospital leaders met with employees Friday to discuss the transition plans.

Workers were also issued a letter that said the facility will close permanently on March 6 with clinical operations ceasing Feb. 4.

While a hospital spokesperson did not give a head count on the number of people who would be losing their jobs, as of August 2016, officials had said Affinity employed 800 people, including 300 physicians and had more than 100 volunteers.

"The permanent discontinuance of all Affinity Medical Center services will result in the permanent termination of your employment with Affinity Medical Center, effective at 12 a.m. on March 7, 2018," the letter stated.

All employees will be expected to work as scheduled and perform assigned duties through March 6 unless released from duties sooner, the letter said.

Walsh's statement said that all employees who complete their employment will be paid through March 6.

A news release posted on the website of Quorum Health Corp — the parent company of Affinity Medical Center — announced the closure, citing declining revenues, paired with increasing provider compensation and a highly competitive market that have lead to financial loses each year for the last six years, as the reason for the hospital's demise.

All closure activities will be completed by March 31, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Quorum Health is a spinoff of Community Health Systems. In April 2016, the spinoff was complete and Quorum owned and operated 31 hospitals, including Affinity, in non-urban and mid-sized markets.

Patient care

The hospital will stop  admitting patients on Jan. 21 and will wind down remaining operations by the Feb. 4 deadline, Susan Koosh, vice president of marketing and community relations at Affinity, said in an email.

"For any patient who needs care, we will work closely with their physician and care team to help make a comfortable transfer," she wrote. 

The Emergency Department will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 4.

All facilities affiliated with Affinity Medical Center will cease operations. Notifications will be made to employees.

Heading for crisis

National Nurses United, whose affiliate National Nurses Organizing Committee-Ohio represents about 250 registered nurses at Affinity pledged to work with local leaders, community members and others to oppose the closing.

Affinity RNs will discuss the impact of the closure and begin a campaign to save the hospital at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the sidewalk in front the Eighth Street entrance.

"Nurses, like the rest of our community, are stunned by this sudden announcement to close Affinity Medical Center. I have been providing care to patients in this community for over 35 years and know that the care provided by nurses and other staff at AMC is very much needed. There is no way that I am going to accept this decision by QHC to abandon our community sitting down,” said nurse Rose Anne Wilson, who works in Affinity's Orthopedic Department.

Jean Ross, registered nurse and co-president of National Nurses United, the largest U.S. union and professional association of RNs, called the closure unwarranted, saying it will "have potential life threatening effects with the loss of a hospital that provides critical cardiac care services that will not be easily replaced in a rural community with limited public transportation options for low income, senior residents."

NNU sharply criticized Quorum for having no apparent plan to protect community residents served by the hospital, or the hundreds of Affinity nurses and other caregivers.

"If Quorum and CHS are unwilling to keep Affinity open, it should commit to work with elected officials and the community to develop another operator to retain this vital community resource, or be held fully accountable for the disaster likely to follow,"said Ross.

Ross said Community Health System has a long, history of "ignoring the interests and well being of the patients who count on them for care and who have funded the wealth of this big corporation."

For years, hospital leaders have been criticized for their handling of employee relations. The nurses voted in 2012 to organize under the auspices of National Nurses United.

Later that year, Affinity RN Ann Wayt was dismissed. The union claimed it was retaliation for her involvement in union organizing activities. Affinity denied the allegations saying Wayt was fired for violating policies and procedures of patient care. The National Labor Relations Board ruled Wayt's charge of unfair labor practices had merit.

In 2013, a federal judge ruled Affinity had to reinstate Wayt and negotiate with its nurses. During a jury trail in 2015, Wayt was awarded more than $2 million in her defamation case. 

The two sides have been negotiating since then and the unionized nurses have never had a contract.

Nurses, and others, have raised concerns about patient care.

In 2013, Affinity registered nurses picketed the hospital protesting "brazen violations of federal law by (Community Health Systems)-affiliated hospitals and the hospitals' failure to address rampant patient care problems."

Last year, again the nurses tried to raise concerns about patient care.

Since the merger of Massillon Community Hospital and Doctors Hospital in 2006 and subsequent closing of Doctors and acquisition of the facility by Community Health Systems, the hospital has seen a number of layoffs, including the most recent in March.

As many at 50 non-union employees were laid off at Affinity. Hospital officials at the time declined to give a specific number of employees impacted by the job cuts.

Workers, who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation, spoke out saying positions slashed included licensed practical nurses, orderlies, lab technicians, secretaries and administrative workers, transporters, or patient escorts and nonunion nurses who are mid-to-low level managers.

The hospital also was in the process of closing its rehabilitation unit, workers said.

CEO Ron Bierman, who had served as Affinity's top executive since 2008, abruptly left his post without explanation, and the hospital would not comment on why.

In June, Affinity got a new CEO when John Walsh took over, replacing Elizabeth Pruitt, who had been handling executive duties since August 2016.

Neighbors ready to help

Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center officials are prepared for an expected influx of patients.

Ed Roth, president and CEO of Aultman Health Foundation, said officials there were "deeply saddened" to learn of the closing and the impact it will have on the hospital's patients, employees and Massillon and surrounding communities.

Autlman will work with Affinity to make the process as convenient as possible for patients coming to its facilities at Aultman West, Aultman Orrville Hospital and Aultman Hospital main campus.

"We remain committed to providing the highest-quality care to the residents of Stark and Wayne counties," Roth said in a statement.

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com.

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