“There hadn’t really been updates since 2011. And so even so we’re in 2012, that doesn’t appear to be that long, everything is required to be state of the art and current, along with some procedural issues that were unacceptable.”

The state Department of Health sent out a notice late last week allowing EJ Noble to reopen inpatient and emergency rooms, as well as the lab. Conole says there are still issues with the blood bank, so that is still closed. Until all the issues with the blood bank are resolved, Conole says the hospital cannot perform obstetrics.

Despite the problems, he says people do not have to have previous lab work redone:“Anything done before was fine. We can continue to move forward. Onward and upward.”

Conole says Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown is providing supervision at EJ Noble’s lab. He says EJ Noble is watching its finances, after a month of lost revenue. But he says he's glad the hospital is open again, and serving the community.