2009

Joint Venture Between Summa and Western Reserve Hospital Partners to Operate Hospital

16 January, 2009

Contact: Mike Berstein, Phone: (330) 375-7930, Email: bernsteinm@summahealth.org

Akron, Ohio, Jan. 16, 2009 – The Summa Health System and Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital Boards of Directors have voted to approve the sale of the operations of Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital (CFGH) and the lease of the facility and employees to a joint venture between Summa and Western Reserve Hospital Partners (WRHP). As a result, the new entity, Summa Western Reserve Hospital, LLC, will take over operations at the hospital upon receiving regulatory approvals.

The facility, to be renamed Summa Western Reserve Hospital, will commence operations while construction of the planned 100-bed, full-service community hospital in northern Summit County is completed. Upon completion, the services and operations of Summa Western Reserve Hospital will transfer to the new facility, allowing Summa to utilize the former CFGH campus to provide additional healthcare services that best serve our community.

This joint venture model will have no impact on current hospital operations until after the new facility’s planned opening in 2011. Plans for future use of the current CFGH facility continue to be finalized, however, it is anticipated that it will be used as an aging in place campus to continue to provide an increasing array of services to a growing senior population. There are no plans to eliminate any employees as a result of the joint venture.

“The decision to transition Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital comes following careful and thoughtful deliberation of how to best serve the residents of northern Summit and southern Cuyahoga counties,” said Summa Health System President and CEO Tom Strauss. “By partnering with Western Reserve Hospital Partners, we will ultimately provide a new facility that will serve a growing population in a more convenient location. Upon transition to the new facility, it will allow Summa to continue to utilize the current Cuyahoga Falls General location for additional services in the future.” 

Summa and WRHP announced in January 2008 plans to construct and jointly operate the northern hospital. The facility will be located off of Route 8 with Summa Health System and WRHP physicians sharing ownership. Site selection is in the final stages, but it is anticipated that the hospital will be located along Seasons Road.

“As physicians, we look forward to working with Summa Health System to continue to enhance care for the community,” said Western Reserve Hospital Partners President Robert Kent, DO. “Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital and the new northern facility are very important to us. Together with Summa, we will ensure that the current location continues to thrive as we construct the new facility and that we remain committed to providing the outstanding care our patients are accustomed to, now and in the future.”

Although required to be classified as for-profit by law, Summa Western Reserve Hospital will operate in a manner which is consistent with Summa Health System’s not-for-profit mission. As part of this philosophy, the new hospital will adopt a charity care policy consistent with Summa Health System’s charity care policy, meaning all people will be treated regardless of their ability to pay. 

About Summa Health System
Summa Health System is one of the largest integrated delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and multiple foundations, Summa is nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. Summa also is a founding partner of the BioInnovation Institute in Akron.