Good Samaritan Hospital closing: What we know now

Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton will close by the end of 2018.

Premier Health announced today that the hospital, based on the northwest side of Dayton, will shut down by the end of 2018. The health network — the largest private employer in the region — said the closure is “part of Premier Health’s new strategic plan.”

“Premier Health made this difficult but necessary decision partly in response to the changing national and local dynamics of health care,” company officials said.

» MUST-READ BUSINESS NEWS: 5 things you need to know about Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton

Here’s what we know about the closure now:

1. WHY IS THE HOSPITAL SHUTTING DOWN?  Premier said it was unsustainable to operate two hospitals within five miles of each other. "The impact of national changes in the health care industry, compounded by the changing face of Dayton over the past decade, made clear that Premier Health had to make significant changes to continue to serve the entire region and reach patients in innovative ways in their communities going forward," Premier officials said on Wednesday morning.

SEE HOW MUCH HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS EARN

2. WILL OTHER PREMIER HOSPITALS CLOSE? No. Other Premier hospital will not be impacted. "Premier Health's strategic plan encompasses the entire organization and calls for continued investment in higher acuity services and critical programs at Atrium Medical Center. It also remains committed to ensuring Upper Valley Medical Center remains the leading ambulatory and surgically focused community hospital in its region," the company explained in a statement.

3. HOW MANY JOBS WILL BE IMPACTED? Approximately 1,600 jobs will be impacted. More than 1,500 employees worked for Good Samaritan Hospital in 2016, according to data obtained by this news organization. It is not immediately clear how many jobs will be cut in the process of the hospital's closure, but Premier officials said they were committed to finding jobs for Good Samaritan employees in other Premier facilities.

Premier Health employs around 14,000 in the Dayton region.

4. WILL THE PROPERTY BE REDEVELOPED?

The firm tasked with fostering a redevelopment plan for the Montgomery County Fairgrounds will also be in charge of planning what the hospital’s campus could become.

The firm planning NEXT, a Columbus-based company, will be involved in potential redevelopment.

The goal will be to get the site “shovel ready” for potential redevelopment, Premier’s CEO said during a press conference. No date for any demolition has been set since the hospital will still be in operation until the end of the year.

Premier will also be working with CityWide Development Corporation to help repurpose the site.

Over the next few months, community input for redevelopment of the property will be sought, according to Premier. Updates on the plans for the property will be available online.

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