WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners and Warren’s mayor are working to draft a letter to state their support for the continuation of residents going to Trumbull Regional Medical Center for treatment, as well as an effort for local leaders to be involved should ownership of the hospital change, according to board President Denny Malloy.

Malloy on Tuesday said a group of business leaders, including representatives of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, Western Reserve Port Authority, Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, himself and others met Thursday at Trumbull Country Club to discuss the future of the hospital if its owner Steward Health Care System decides to leave.

The group is expected to continue meeting to plan for the future of hospital service in the county.

“We want any future provider to care about Trumbull (County) citizens and have a community-based approach,” Malloy said. “We want any transition to be smooth, without the hospital temporarily closing during the transition from Steward. We would like them to retain employees and continue to service the community.”

Malloy said they would like to see a nonprofit to take over the operations of the hospital if Steward leaves.

“We want local involvement,” Malloy said. “We don’t want it shut down for months during the transition.”

“This is a community that is growing and we need two hospitals serving it,” he said. “Having two hospitals will encourage competition, which will keep the prices down. Having two hospitals has worked well for this community.”

Franklin said he has already sent a letter to Steward officials outlining his concerns.

The mayor and commissioners are co-writing another letter to Steward leaders hoping the weight of the combined offices will have some impact on future decision making.

“We know, from experience, our Valley is best served if residents have choice when making their health care decisions,” Franklin said. “We believe having a choice is very critical at getting quality health outcomes.”

If Trumbull County is reduced to having one hospital, it will be over burdened, Franklin said.

“Maintaining two hospitals is a high priority for both the county and the city,” Franklin said. “We are being proactive in getting in front of whatever the possibilities that may happen.”

Members of the group are expected to develop a comprehensive plan looking at a variety of options available to local leaders, depending on what Steward decides it plans to do with the local hospital.

Malloy said leadership at Steward have “been very transparent and open about the issues they have been facing.”

“There have been some bills that have not been paid. However, Trumbull Memorial is profitable. I’ve been told it earned more than $10 million in profits last year,” he said.

Trumbull Memorial Hospital is the former name of Trumbull Regional.