SHARON, Pa. – More than two months after it closed, Sharon Regional Medical Center is set to reopen Tuesday.
The Sharon hospital, operated by Tenor Health Foundation Sharon LLC, will reopen under the license of the bankrupt Steward Health Care System after getting approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday.
“The reopening of Sharon Regional Medical Center is a critical victory for the health and safety of our community. Adequate access to emergency care and services saves lives, and this will ensure that residents will have a hospital to turn to in times of crisis,” commonwealth Sen. Michele Brooks, R-50th, said in a news release. “I am grateful for the dedication of all involved in making this happen and look forward to seeing Sharon Regional once again serve the people of Mercer County.”
According to the release, the health department has been working hundreds of hours with Tenor to make certain the hospital is in compliance and that patient safety is the top priority.
“As Secretary of Health, I understand the importance of health care access and the role hospitals play in communities, as well as the role the Department plays in enforcing regulatory standards in health care facilities including Sharon Regional,” Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said in the release. “We are pleased Sharon Regional is once again able to offer medical services to people in the community.”
Steward closed the hospital Jan. 6, and Tenor Health on Jan. 10 obtained the rights to operate it through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston, Texas. However, despite Tenor CEO Radha Savitala stating the plan was to reopen within days, the process was delayed, reportedly due to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s concerns about patient safety at the facility.
“Sharon Regional Medical Center is a vital community resource that is counted on to provide critical health care services in our region,” said commonwealth Rep. Parke Wentling, R-17th. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to ensure Sharon Regional is able to continue serving our friends and neighbors.”
Savitala didn’t respond to a request to comment.