WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioSale of Forum Health to Community Health Systems is complete

Sale of Forum Health to Community Health Systems is complete

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A year and a half of bankruptcy lawyers, union negotiations and wondering about the Future of Forum Health is near an end.

It's official, Trumbull Memorial Hospital, Northside Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, along with Forum Health's outpatient clinics and other properties are now under the ownership of Community Health Systems, Inc.

A wire transfer of 120-million dollars made the transfer of the hospitals complete. The sale means that charity care will continue and all three hospitals will remain open.

At least 80-million dollars of capital investment will be made over the next five years. Community Health Systems is also committed to allocating resources to a long-term physician recruitment plan that would bring in new primary care physicians and specialists.

Employees will be hired in to the same jobs, at the same pay and their seniority will be recognized. Local boards of trustees will be comprised of community leaders and members of each hospitals respective medical staff.

David Fikse will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Northside and as the CEO of the entire health system. He has 25 years of healthcare management experience.

As a result of the ownership change, the three hospitals will change their tax status and begin paying property and other local taxes supporting the communities they serve.

Community Health Systems is the largest publicly traded hospital company in the country.