The city council has voted in favor of a temporary ban on independent emergency care facilities in Xenia.
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City Council members voted unanimously Thursday night to impose a 60-day ban on the new facilities.
>>RELATED: Kettering Health Announces Plans for New Medical Center in Greene County
This comes after Kettering Health announced plans to replace Kettering Health Greene Memorial with a new $44 million medical center, Kettering Health Xenia, News Center 7 reported back on August 7.
The news came after Xenia city officials offered to acquire Greene Memorial from the health care network.
>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Xenia offers ‘exit’ to acquire Greene Memorial Hospital from Kettering Health
City Council members said the city’s zoning regulations only include rules for hospitals and not for 24-hour emergency rooms.
“We have no rules,” Legal Director Donette Fisher said during the City Council meeting.
City Manager Brent Merriman said the 60 days will give the city time to review the city’s zoning plans and evaluate the impact on adjacent properties.
Kettering Health released a statement ahead of Thursday night’s meeting:
“Kettering Health is committed to meeting the health care needs of the citizens of Xenia and Greene County – now and in the future. We share the passion of local leaders to provide these communities with access to high-quality health care services that prioritize patients receiving care as close to home as possible. As we work to achieve this, 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 that high-quality health care remains accessible and compliant with all regulations adopted by local officials. We remain committed to collaborating and seeking input from community members throughout this process.”
We will continue to follow this story.
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