East Ohio Regional Hospital, a 140-bed healthcare facility in Martins Ferry, has closed, local media outlets reported.
Signs posted at EORH entrances March 20 said “Hospital closed! Please go to the nearest hospital Trinity, Reynolds or Wheeling!” according to the outlets, including The Intelligencer and NBC and Fox affiliate WTOV.
The closing is the latest chapter for the struggling hospital and comes as workers reported having not received their most recent paychecks. Employees were not paid as scheduled March 7 and said they remained unpaid as of March 20, according to The Intelligencer.
Also in March, EORH announced the closures of the pharmacy and long-term care and skilled nursing facility, as well as the layoff of “ancillary services” to strengthen efforts to prioritize payroll disbursement. Martins Ferry Police Chief Jerry Murphy, who confirmed to Becker’s earlier this week that his department was looking into complaints from employees about not getting paid, as well as unpaid insurance claims, confirmed March 21 that, most recently, the hospital has also announced the closure of the emergency department.
Human Resources Director Rick Oliver notified employees of the “difficult” decision to close the ED, saying the hospital could not keep it open due to a recent resignation, according to The Intelligencer.
Regarding payroll, according to the newspaper, he told employees: “As we collect funds, we intend to pay any back wages which you are owed. Any paychecks still due from before Friday, March 14, 2025, should be paid in the near future.”
He added that those laid off should expect their final pay within 30 days of their last day of employment, and that EORH is making efforts to address any unpaid health insurance claims after their coverage was previously discontinued due to nonpayment, The Intelligencer reported.
Additionally, in his letter to staff, Mr. Oliver attributed many of EORH’s financial struggles to limited cash flow, and said the hospital continues to make efforts to secure financing and a buyer.
EORH’s closure is among the latest to be reported by Becker’s in 2025. Becker’s has reached out to the hospital and will update this story if more information becomes available.
