GREENE COUNTY — The City of Xenia wants to take over control of Greene Memorial Hospital from Kettering Health.
Greene Memorial Hospital has been in Xenia for decades. If the city gets its way, the facility could have a new owner.
“We’re looking for an opportunity to be able to step in, provide an exit ramp for the network,” said Brent Merriman, Xenia City Manager.
Merriman said the city is looking for a deal that can happen without a sale.
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“But at the same time, facilitate an opportunity where the city could prospectively look at other partners to come and backfill that space and provide, equivalent or hopefully a higher level of service,” Merriman said.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, they also want to find a third party partner to provide healthcare services at the site and invest in it long term.
News Center 7 obatined the letter the city sent to Kettering Health about the proposal. In the letter, the city says it’s concerned about the drastic reduction of services and staffing at Greene Memorial over the last 12 years.
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“As we said in the letter, and I think we stand by that. And most, locals would agree― it’s really a shell of of a hospital,” Merriman said.
The city is concerned about the maintenance and condition of large sections of the hospital that it says have been sitting vacant and unused.
In a statement sent to News Center 7, Kettering Health said in part:
“We will communicate any plans for the future at the appropriate time as we continue to assess community needs and the realities of an evolving healthcare landscape.”
— Kettering Health Spokesperson
We will continue following this story.