We were relieved to see Steward Health Care finally forced out of our communities. After years of gutting care, draining resources, and putting profits over patients, this vile company was exposed for what it truly is: a reckless, unaccountable corporation with no place in healthcare. But just when we thought the Valley might begin to heal from the devastation they left behind, Steward is reaching out from the depths of bankruptcy court—fixing to drag our community down with them.
Despite Steward’s exit, their mismanagement and greed continue to put patient care and hospital services at risk. While Mahoning Valley families wait to hear if they’ll still have access to life-saving care, Steward’s executives are scrambling to protect their own interests. Not one of them has stepped up to take responsibility for the harm they’ve caused or the chaos they continue to unleash on our hospitals and health professionals.
“Our patients are the ones who suffer the most from this instability,” said De Anna Fuchilla, Chair of the Hillside Local Unit of the Ohio Nurses Association, AFT. “Every day, we’re doing everything we can to make sure they get the care they need, but the uncertainty caused by Steward’s bankruptcy is creating fear and confusion. Our patients deserve better. They deserve stability, compassion, and a healthcare system that puts them first.”
“If what they’re doing isn’t illegal now, it should be,” added Rick Lucas, RN, President of the Ohio Nurses Association. “We need a policy change to protect the public from these types of predators.”
We need state lawmakers to stand with the residents of the Valley—and the entire state—by taking action now. Enough is enough. It’s time for elected officials to create real, enforceable policies that protect patients and our communities from predatory corporations like Steward. No company should be allowed to raid healthcare systems, abandon their responsibilities, and leave patients and workers to pick up the pieces.
The people of the Valley deserve to move on. We need the new hospital leaders to be able to clean up Steward’s mess, restore trust, and rebuild the care systems our families depend on.
Patient care dollars need to be spent on patient care—not on fleecing our community to buy yachts and toys for millionaires. Our communities are not ATMs for corporate greed. We won’t stand by while Steward’s failures continue to threaten lives in our community.
Contact: Michelle Day
Director of Communications & Technology
mday@ohnurses.org