One Town In Northeast Ohio Could Lose 800 Jobs In March

MASSILLON, OH — Despite the efforts of protesters, the Affinity Medical Center and Doctors Hospital Physician Services have both filed closing and layoff paperwork with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The layoffs would leave more than 800 people without jobs.

The paperwork to move forward with the closings and layoffs was filed Jan. 5. Employees would be laid off on March 6 and March 7 of this year.

The Human Resources Director for Physicians Services said in her letter to the state that services are expected to end at Affinity on Feb. 4. Employees would be terminated a little more than a month later.

Affinity is owned by a Tennessee company called Quorum. The firm said Affinity has lost money each year for six years. "Declining revenues, paired with increasing provider compensation and a highly competitive market, have led to financial losses each year for the last six years," Quorum said in a press release.

The company was unable to find a buyer for the hospital, leading to the decision to close down services.

Dennis Kucinich, a Democratic candidate for governor, appeared at a rally with nurses from Affinity, in an effort to keep the facility open. He said the city should look into eminent domain proceedings as a way to take control of the hospital.

Kucinich was also involved in the failed attempt to keep Lakewood Hospital open.

Nearby Summa Hospital said Affinity employees should consider applying for open positions with the Summa system.

Should nothing change, Affinity will cease services on Feb. 4, 2018.

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