ALIQUIPPA, Pa. -- Nervous about Aliquippa Community Hospital closing its doors, residents in Beaver County are speaking out.

They got a chance Sunday to express those concerns during a public hearing.

Mired in debt and facing a shutdown by the state health department, Aliquippa Hospital could close as soon as February.

A private company is now trying to buy the hospital.

Commonwealth Medical said they are willing to buy the hospital then sink $1 million into improvements.

"They believe to the extent that they are willing to invest their million dollars that they can do it," said Michael Shiner, an attorney with the hospital. "Given the alternative right now -- that we are going to close if there's no one else -- we think that's a bet worth taking right now."

Health department inspectors have downgraded the hospital's status four times in the last two years.

The health department will again inspect the hospital in January. If the hospital fails that inspection, the health department will shut it down.