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Merger Talks Begin for Two Hospitals in Schuylkill County

Merger Talks Begin for Two Hospitals in Schuylkill County - Monday, September 17, 2007 at 6:23PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 @06:23pm EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY - Big changes could soon be coming to two hospitals that serve people in Schuylkill County.

Pottsville Hospital and the Good Samaritan Medical Center are looking into the possibility of merging. The two hospitals serve more than 16,000 people every year and officials say they're looking into whether a consolidation of services would benefit people in the community.

"Knowing that there are so many changes in healthcare going on at every level, they want to see if putting both organizations together, that makes it a potential stronger organization," Pottsville Hospital CEO & President John Simodejka said.

The 1,900 employees at both facilities received word about the possible merger Monday morning. While it is still a long way from being a done deal, officials say the consolidation study only makes sense.

If it comes down the road, the best possible thing would be better patient care, stronger services and that benefits everybody," Good Samaritan Hospital CEO & President Bernard Koval said Monday morning.

Many people in Pottsville say they are concerned about the possibility of a merger.

"I would be against it because people would lose jobs, cut services or they would not provide as good of services as they would independently, Mike Callaghan of Pottsville said Monday afternoon.

"I don't really think it's a good idea because this way, there's a choice of which hospital they can really go to," Pottsville resident Martina Pelton said.

Officials say any word of layoffs or building closures is just speculation right now, especially since the community is seeing an increase in need.

"Right now, our hospital isn't big enough to take everything. John's Hospital is not big enough to take everything. We really need both institutions," Koval said.

Officials from both hospitals say the study of any possible merger will take between six and nine months.
 


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