Aliquippa Hospital Being Shut DownCommonwealth Medical Center Has Money TroublesPOSTED: 5:16 pm EST November 26,
2008 ALIQUIPPA, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health will shut down the financially-troubled Commonwealth Medical Center if the hospital can't show that it's capable of operating for at least six months to a year.Last week, the health department ordered a ban on all new inpatient, outpatient, emergency and non-emergency admissions to the hospital until further notice.The Department of Health said the medical center has submitted some requested documents to prove its financial stability, but some are still missing.In a news release, the department said it was notified that the local gas company was about to shut off service at the hospital for non-payment. The department also said the hospital was running out of critical supplies, and it was in the public's best interest to stop all admissions.Patients are being told to go to two nearby hospitals -- Heritage Valley on Dutch Ridge Road in Beaver or Heritage Valley on Blackburn Road in Sewickley.Aliquippa resident Walter Dorer said going to the Sewickley hospital would take an extra 15 minutes.Neighbors told Channel 4 Action News reporter Sheldon Ingram that they are sad to see the hospital close."I had cancer of the colon and they saved my life in this hospital 23 years ago," said John Ivanchan of Hopewell. "They really took care of me and everything else here."John Ivanchan's wife Joan said, "It's such a nice hospital and they're so nice here. We need it around here. We really do."The hospital was built for and financed in part by steelworkers during the early 1950s.Retired steelworker Columbus Jeter, 85, said his contributions were taken out of his paycheck."Sometimes they'd take out $10-$15 for four or five years. I was young then, I was in my 20's," said Jeter.Despite facing a grim fate, one patient said the staff is still working hard."As far as the service and people, they are there and they know what they're doing. There's a full compliment of people," said Ohioville resident Dick Kenny.The hospital has until December 10 to submit an approved plan of correction. It must also pass an on-site inspection by the state.If it does not submit a financial plan of correction by then, the Department of Health will start levying fines.
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