Hospital sale could boost local care, mayor says

Mayor Greg DiDonato says he is hopeful that the sale of Trinity Health System, which owns Trinity Hospital Twin City in Dennison, to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will be good news for the area.

“I personally think it could turn out to be a very good thing,” he said. “I think the makeup makes sense. Whether we realize it or not, Pittsburgh is closer to us than Columbus and Cleveland. I think if you have a good healthcare system, good doctors and you have a good reputation, you getting the help you need doesn’t matter whether you go north or south.”

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and CommonSpirit Health signed a definitive agreement on May 4 to transfer ownership of Trinity Health System to UPMC.

In addition to Trinity Twin City Medical Center, Trinity Health operates hospitals in Steubenville and St. Clairsville.

The transaction is expected to be completed this fall, pending regulatory review and customary closing conditions.

Trinity Hospital Twin City, a 25-bed facility, is the largest employer in Dennison, according to the mayor. The largest percentage of its employees live in Uhrichsville. The hospital has around 175 employees, as well as 25 to 30 contract employees.

DiDonato noted that UPMC is the biggest hospital in western Pennsylvania.

Rural hospitals have long dealt with a doctor shortage, he said. “With a big hospital like that, not too far away, plus the University of Pittsburgh is a teaching hospital which produces doctors, and I’m hoping that maybe those are some of the things they could address. I do think that if we can get some services there out of the specialty clinic again, it would go a long way because it’s an older community around here, and most people don’t want to drive a long distance to get services.”

UPMC already operates many rural hospitals in Pennsylvania, he said. “So, I think they’re quite familiar with rural hospital operations.”

He added, “At this point in time, I look forward to working with them, and I know that they’re highly regarded.”

Beth DiDonato, executive director of the Twin City Chamber of Commerce, echoed the mayor’s comments.

“If Trinity had to sell out, I’m thankful they found someone to purchase our little hospital here,” she said.

The local hospital dates back to 1912. “It’s been a matter of life and death, not only for Uhrichsville and Dennison residents and folks, but it’s a long way from Freeport and down that way and Tappan Lake and some of those places to get to Union (Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover). So, even though it might be a stop along the way, it’s a stop along the way that has saved many, many lives.”

She added that the hospital has a huge economic impact on Uhrichsville and Dennison. “So, while Trinity has been very good to the area, I’m sure Pittsburgh will be as well. It’s going to take them time to figure out exactly what, who, where and way and all the logistics with it.”

She said she hopes UPMC will keep Trinity Twin City Hospital open, because it would be devastating to the area if it closed.

Formerly, Trinity Twin City was an independent hospital known as Twin City Hospital. It filed for bankruptcy in 2010. In 2011, the hospital was purchased by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. Then in 2014 the hospital’s sponsorship was transferred to Catholic Health Initiatives and it became part of Trinity Health System of Steubenville.

A report in 2025 listed Trinity Hospital Twin City as one of 11 rural hospitals in Ohio that are at risk of closing due to federal Medicaid cuts.