(LANSING) – The reorganization of Sturgis Hospital will not only effect employees, but other segments of the community.

That was one of the comments made by State Representative Aaron Miller Thursday after the announcement by Hospital officials of the reorganization that will start on December 3.

Miller says these moves will have a ripple effect through the City of Sturgis and the eastern part of St. Joseph County. He says it will make it difficult to attract businesses and workers to the area.

Miller says he is standing up and calling on fellow community leaders and other members of the community to stand with him and say these moves are
simply unacceptable.

Miller asks if the situation at Sturgis Hospital has been steadily getting worse for quite awhile, why hasn't Hospital leadership shared this with the community? He says if these moves that are being implemented by the Hospital are absolutely necessary, then the public should have been told several months ago.

Miller says he is calling for the immediate resignation of CEO Rob LaBarge and other senior leadership. If the resignations are not given, he will call on the Sturgis Hospital board to remove them by the close of business on Monday, December 3.

If the board cannot manage to do that, Miller says he will call for the unwilling board members to resign and for a publicly responsible board to take their place.

The Community is invited to a town hall meeting on Monday at 7 PM to address the impact of the cuts planned by Sturgis Hospital. The event will be hosted by the Sturgis Hospital Michigan Nurses Association, TPOAM Sturgis Hospital Employees and Miller.

Hospital Administrators and the Sturgis Hospital Board have been invited to attend and share information about this situation and address urgent questions from the public.

It will be held at Eastwood School on South Franks Avenue.