Welcome to the Summa Health Community Impact Report
Welcome to Summa Health’s 2022 Community Impact Report. In this report we highlight how Summa Health dedicated its resources in 2022 to create programs and activities that promote health and healing as a response to community needs. More than ever, Summa Health feels the responsibility to serve and be a leader in the community. Not just by providing high-quality, high-value healthcare for our patients. Not just through providing charity care for those in need. But by advancing the health of this community, and by giving back as much as the community has given us.
Our support extends beyond our four walls to offer health improvement services, financial and in-kind donations, community-building activities, research, education and more. Our goal is to be a strong partner with many community partners and agencies to implement strategies to make the largest impact. Together with our partners we:
- Address the most significant health needs of the community
- Improve access to health services
- Support chronic disease management through education
- Reduce health disparities
Our community benefit programs help protect the most vulnerable in our society, improve the education of our local youth and extend our support to the uninsured and underinsured in our society. All of our efforts serve as investments in the long-term health of our community and its members.
Our work continues to evolve as the needs of the community evolve. In 2022, Summa Health contributed $210.1 million in community benefit. Although this report provides a specific dollar amount, the true impact of our work is immeasurable. We remain committed to continuously improving the health of the communities we serve.
Marlo Schmidt
System Director, Community Benefit
By the Numbers
Community Benefit in Action
Committed to community service, Summa Health began offering hands-on medical exploratory outreach in 2015 with a small cohort of Akron Public Schools. Since then, Summa Health’s efforts have expanded to include more students from Akron Public Schools and additional health systems throughout Greater Akron. In partnership with Black Men in White Coats, Summa Health hosted a youth summit at the University of Akron on October 27, 2022. Honored guests were Akron Public School students interested in the healthcare profession. The youth had an opportunity to engage with Black physicians and participate in hands-on health-related activities. Watch the video to learn more.
In 2022, members of the Summa Health Protective Services/Police Department participated in many community events, volunteering more than 300 hours. Some of these events included local parades, Summa Foundation events, Faith and Blue, community safety programs and community “Touch-A-Truck” events. This department also is part of the Summit County Christmas With A Cop organization, and department members assist in raising funds. In 2022, fundraising efforts allowed the department to take nine in-need children shopping during the holidays. The department also hosted several “Stuff-A-Cruiser” events, collecting more than 203 pounds of food and $200, all of which was donated to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
Being a hospital patient can feel isolating. A patient’s — and their family’s — physical and emotional health can take a toll. That’s why we have WAGtime, Summa Health’s pet visitation program. This pet therapy program allows individuals and their dogs to visit patients and family members within our hospitals. WAGtime volunteers have a profound impact on the hospital patients they meet, bringing smiles to their faces and helping to lift their spirits. In 2022, Summa Health had 11 WAGtime teams with 15 adult volunteers. These friendly teams visited numerous patient rooms, waiting rooms and departments throughout the health system as well as at the University of Akron during finals week.
- Touched 100 unique individuals
- Completed 422 visits in the clinic, patient home or virtually
- Completed 1,166 telephone and MyChart encounters to address various needs outside of scheduled appointments
This project allowed us to provide this innovative care model to make the vaccine accessible to those in need in our community, many who struggle with reliable transportation. These efforts were made possible through the financial support of grants through the City of Akron and Summit County Public Health (through funds they received from sources such as the U.S. Treasury/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Ohio Department of Health (ODH)*.
*The contents of this article do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement by any of the government entities listed.
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Summa Health EKG technician Carolyn Boykin saw an opportunity to help geriatric patients in the ED and partnered with Volunteer Services to create “Boykin Bonnets”. A dedicated band of volunteer knitters behind the scenes make the hats that Carolyn – as well as ED nursing – offer to patients in need. This is just one small example of caring, compassion and partnership with the community to improve comfort.
Leaving the home can be a challenge for many community-dwelling patients. Advanced age, frailty, dementia, functional impairments and other chronic diseases can have a cumulative effect creating barriers to seeking medical care outside the home. Summa’s Housecalls program helps those individuals by bringing coordinated medical care to the home. The team of physicians, nurse practitioners, social work and nursing staff coordinate care via home visits, telephonic care management, and even arrangement for lab and x-ray testing at home. The team also provides decision support for when emergent or specialist care is needed, so that trips to the hospital and doctors’ appointments are minimized.
In 2022, the Housecalls program:
- Cared for 942 unique individuals
- Completed 3,994 home visits
David Lieberth
Chair
2022 Community Engagement Committee
The Community Engagement Committee (CEC) of the Summa Health Board of Directors is responsible for the governance, oversight and implementation of Summa Health’s community benefit, community outreach and community relations activities and strategies. The CEC provides input to hospital leadership when developing the Community Health Needs Assessment and creating and evaluating the Community Health Implementation Plan. The CEC encourages and fosters collaboration between committee members, Summa Health’s other governing bodies and health partners. They also support Summa Health’s efforts to engage its communities in dialogue to better understand the mission and population health vision of the health system. The CEC consists of community members and individuals from organizations that provide services to Summa Health’s target population and focus health areas.
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