New children's hospital in Youngstown

According to news reports, Akron Children's Hospital (ACH) will purchase a Youngstown area medical park, leading to a new full-service children's hospital in the Mahoning Valley (sources: Ohio.com and Youngstown Vindicator  news articles, Sept. 7, 2007). ACH will purchase Forum Health's Beeghly Medical Park. Forum Health is a Youngstown-Warren-area health system that, according to news reports, has been struggling financially and recently put all of its assets up for sale.

According to Dr. Keith T. Ghezzi, Forum's interim president and chief executive officer, "Money from the sale will enable Forum to retire some of its debt and pay down some of its pension obligations, all while continuing to provide quality care in the rest of its facilities." ACH expects to open a 30- to 40-bed pediatric hospital on the Boardman property by early 2008. The new hospital will include a pediatric emergency room and other outpatient services.