With Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull stopping patient admissions for non-emergencies, the valley once again is losing another healthcare resource.

On Tuesday, Steward Health sold its management functions to a third party to help cover its debt. The decision left Insight and its patients in the dark. 

With the exception of inpatient behavioral health patients, Insight hospital is stopping their patient admissions for non-emergencies, with no time set for when it will return.

Current patients are being treated and those being treated in the ER that need to be admitted will be transferred.

“In addition, the hospital continues to offer all outpatient services including outpatient surgery, cardiac cath procedures, imaging, lab, rehabilitation, and all other outpatient services. Insight Health Center, Austintown and Insight Health Center, Elm Road, the affiliated outpatient facilities, continue to offer all outpatient services as well,” said a spokesperson for Insight. 

An Insight spokesperson said the hospital will continue to offer outpatient services and are moving forward with all scheduled surgeries, and will be in communication with the patients.

"We're in strong communication with Insight as well as administrators for the hospital," said Warren Mayor Doug Franklin. "We will stand by them through this process. We became aware a few weeks ago of a restructuring effort that might take place depending on the results of a bankruptcy court decision regarding the transition service agreement (TSA). That seemed to force Insight to do some restructuring so we're going to stand by them and support them through the process."

Insight Rehabilitation Hospital Hillside is continuing to offer all inpatient and outpatient services, as well as at the Austintown and Cortland locations.

21 News asked multiple hospitals in the valley if they can handle a potential influx of patients

UPMC sent the following statement:

“Our teams at UPMC Horizon-Shenango Valley in Farrell, UPMC Jameson in New Castle and UPMC Horizon-Greenville remain dedicated to caring for the region. When demand for UPMC services increases, we prioritize and respond to the needs of our community.”

Salem Regional Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic also say they are prepared for potential influxes in patients.

Just a month ago, Cleveland Clinic announced its expansion of primary care in the Mahoning Valley. The hope is  to serve more people in the valley.

“I can say anecdotally that we’ve gotten a lot of calls from patients that we’ve not seen historically at the Cleveland Clinic interested in plugging into our system through these primary care practices. So yeah, we’re prepared. This is what we do. We expect to grow,” said Dr. Brian J. Harte, president of the East Submarket of Cleveland Clinic’s Northeast Ohio Market.

Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy said the county government cannot assist the hospital, other than helping with communication and being available if a governmental need arises.

Nick Santucci, Majority Whip for District 64, is following developments with the hospital. He sent 21 News the following statement:

“I am aware that Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull is currently not accepting new inpatient admissions due to ongoing challenges related to Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy proceedings. My office has been in communication with hospital representatives to stay informed about the situation and understand the impact on our community.

Ensuring access to quality healthcare in Trumbull County is a top priority, and I encourage Insight to work closely with the Ohio Department of Health to identify solutions that will allow the state to provide necessary support. 

My office stands ready to assist where appropriate to help protect healthcare access for the residents of our region. I will continue monitoring this situation closely and advocating for the best possible outcome for our community.”

Inpatient services will be unavailable until Insight Health System is able to get the appropriate software installed. There is no timeline of when that will be complete.

Mercy Health operates St. Joseph hospital less than a mile away from Trumbull Regional and Southwoods Surgical Hospital also remains open.