MARTINS FERRY — Dr. John Johnson, owner of East Ohio Regional Hospital, notified employees via email that they would not be paid as scheduled on Friday, noting that the administration was “working hard to enable a disbursement to take place on or before 3/11/25.”

The news comes amid a period of difficulties for the facility. Among those are the closure of its long-term care facility, the discontinuation of employee health insurance coverage and talks to resolve $1.2 million in delinquent property tax payments.

While members of the administration have been sending frequent messages to staff members to update them as things unfold, this was the first such message to come directly from the owner.

“It’s no surprise that East Ohio Hospital has walked through fires and storms of tribulation hand in hand with many of you over the past four years,” Johnson wrote. “It is because of your valiant efforts, skills and selfless support that the organization has managed to overcome these difficulties that allow continued opportunity to serve the community and beyond. EORH continues to experience these obstacles and challenges as continued navigation through the next steps to keeping the doors of the facility open. The goal of stability remains consistent.”

According to Johnson, he sent the message after “exhausting all possibilities for immediate release of funding” on Friday. He indicated that he hopes employees’ paychecks will be provided to them on Tuesday.

“It is with profound sincerity I am delivering this news,” Johnson added. “EORH is tremendously fortunate to have such strengths and talents that are shared here daily.”

He also expressed appreciation for employees’ loyalty to the facility.

“To those who continue to support our facility, THANK YOU,” he wrote. “Let us do so with a servant heart and a desire to rally collective talents. The hospital’s fabric is woven together from the support of our caregivers and all the ancillary efforts of each department. When we tear each other down, it weakens the bond of strength and the ability of providing support to the patients who continue to seek care here.”

The psychiatrist Johnson, who owns and operates other health care facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, purchased the Martins Ferry hospital in 2020 after it and Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling were both shut down in 2019 by former owner Alecto Healthcare Services. Johnson reopened EORH in February 2021.

“Our intention remains to continue the hospital services and move forward to stability,” Johnson concluded his email to staff. “The delay in funding is not an indication of the EORH closing.”