Two weeks after Kettering Health shared plans to replace Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia, Ohio, with a $44 million medical facility, city officials have implemented a 60-day moratorium on standalone emergency room facilities.
According to notes from an Aug. 22 city council meeting, the city needs time to update its zoning regulations to account for freestanding emergency room facilities, as current land development code only regulates hospitals and outpatient facilities. The moratorium is set to lift Oct. 22.
"Such emergency room facilities are unique due to their 24/7 operation, noise from sirens and possibly helicopters, and their mandate to quickly provide unscheduled medical care," the meeting notes said. "In the midst of a rapidly changing environment, the City needs time to update its regulations before permit applications are submitted for specific facilities."
Earlier this month, Kettering shared plans for the $44 million replacement facility — Kettering Health Xenia — that would comprise a full-service emergency room, breast evaluation center, imaging services and other emergency care support programs. It's expected to take 24 months to complete, with the existing Greene Memorial Hospital, which is on a separate campus, to remain in operation until the new facility opens.
Xenia city officials are pushing to keep the hospital open, saying Kettering's plans for an alternative medical facility would limit access to care and place more pressure on local fire and EMS services to transport patients who need a higher level of care.
"This will add costs to taxpayers, and increased delays in getting appropriate care can have irreparable, negative impacts on patient outcomes," Brent Merriman, city manager, wrote in an Aug. 21 letter to the community. In June, the city sent a letter to Kettering Health CEO Mike Gentry, outlining an "exit ramp" in which Kettering would relay ownership of the hospital to Xenia and work with a third-party to maintain the 44-bed facility as a full-service hospital.
Kettering Health has indicated it intends to move forward with plans for the new facility, and that it will offer hospital staff employment at the new medical facility.
"We share the passion of local leaders to provide these communities with access to high quality healthcare services that prioritize patients receiving care as close to home as possible," health system said in a statement to Becker's. "As we work toward this end, we do so in a rapidly changing environment, where more people are seeking care in outpatient settings compared to hospitals, creating an urgency to invest in facilities that meet these needs."
"Our plans for future services in Xenia will ensure high-quality healthcare remains accessible and abides by any ordinances passed by local officials. We remain committed to collaboration and seeking input from members of the community throughout this process."
Kettering Health has not released plans surrounding the future of the hospital campus.