New life for the former Our Lady of Bellfonte Hospital. Addiction Recovery Care, one of the largest providers of addiction and recovery services in Kentucky, announced that it had signed a letter of intent with OLBH’s parent company, Bon Secours Mercy Health, to purchase the hospital and bring a new treatment center to the area.
This comes as Portsmouth, Ohio is ready to extend a moratorium on the opening of any new rehab facilities. Last November 25, the council adopted a facility banning “new healthcare, medical, rehabilitation, counseling or mental health facilities within the City of Portsmouth, Ohio” for one year. The plan was for the city to update its zoning rules to make sure facilities were properly regulated and maintained.
OLBH and its system-owned care sites and its physician network Bellefonte Physician Services shut down in the spring of 2020.
At the time, Bon Secours said that while they had worked hard to keep the 214- bed hospital going, there was just too much competition in the region. Jason Asic, OLBH interim president, said, “We take the responsibility that comes with this decision very seriously, and we do not go into it lightly. He said they would work closely with employees to make sure they were aware of the shutdown timeline and to assist them with career fairs to find other employment opportunities.
King’s Daughters, SOMC, and other regional health care providers held job fairs to offer employment to former employees of the facility.
ARC plans to open a 40-bed psychiatric and 24-bed chemical dependency facility on the OLBH property.
“Eastern Kentucky has been hit hard the last several decades with addiction. To be able to put something so close to the epicenter to where the problems started is crucial,” the company said in a statement. “We know that when someone needs help, they need it right away. Sometimes that’s in a psychiatric center or a detox center. We’re excited about this project because it gives people immediate access to services.”
The facility is expected to open in about 18 months.