Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City financial state has appeared grim for years says Mayor Mike Parkinson in an interview with KMOX. He says the entire board resigned a few months ago due to lack of financial transparency.
"[Gateway Regional Medical Center] wouldn't turn over the financial reports to us to see why we were hearing so many reports that bills weren't getting paid."
Parkinson tells KMOX the medical center recently lost their level one trauma designation not long ago, which has already cost the city and taxpayers.
"We were already having to divert our ambulance service for most catastrophic events to other regional hospitals in St. Louis and other cities."
Mayor Parkinson says the hospital lost its status as a level one trauma center not year ago, and a full closure would be even worse.
"It was a vital part of our EMS service for many, many years... losing that is clearly going to cost us in more services.
Parkinson says he equates their financial troubles to the local steel mill.
"We need to fight to keep it open but we also have to ensure that they're running it correctly... the finances are going to the right things."
Mayor Parkinson says the board is still interested in helping the medical center if they are willing to be more transparent about their finances.
KMOX reached out to Gateway Regional Medical Center for comment but did not hear back.
