Lawrence County’s two nearest healthcare neighbors say they have no immediate interest in taking over River Valley Health System.

Monday, January 29, 2001

Lawrence County’s two nearest healthcare neighbors say they have no immediate interest in taking over River Valley Health System.

King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky., is not planning anything because of River Valley’s impending shutdown, spokesperson Julie Marsh said last week.

"There is such a huge debt," Ms. Marsh said. "We have no plans to take it on."

At Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, Ky., officials have not discussed the River Valley situation, vice president of development Mike Stautberg said last week.

"Obviously, we are the next closest hospital to Ironton and we are starting to see more people come over ," Stautberg said, adding Bellefonte has taken a patient-centered approach.

Management has reviewed staffing patterns to see where increases are needed at Bellefonte, such as in the emergency room, he said.

Business might increase but RVHS’s closure was not expected and "we didn’t want to see it," Stautberg said.

"But since the decision has happened, we’re moving forward to make sure our facility can meet the needs of patients," he said.

Stautberg called River Valley’s debt a significant factor to those healthcare groups that might be interested in the facility.

That doesn’t mean Bellefonte is opposed to having an interest, but it’s not officially looking at it, he added.

"In the longer term, we might be able to look at a business decision, but the short term is to meet medical needs.," he said.

River Valley announced its closure earlier this month, citing poor financial health.

Now scheduled to shut down Jan. 31, the closure will mean the loss of 400 to 450 local jobs – although just under a dozen employees will likely remain for a couple of weeks to complete the shutdown work, hospital officials said.