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Community Resources
How Does a Hospital-Owned Healthcare Insurance Company Provide Better Service and Quality? [Podcast]
Posted April 05, 2023 by Cliff Deveny, M.D & Bill Epling
Celebrating Women in Healthcare [Podcast]
Posted February 14, 2023 by Cheryl Johnson, MD, FACOG and Jacqueline Tulodzieski-Ahlstrom, DPM
Summa Health Leads the Charge for Opioid-Free Pain Management
Posted February 13, 2023 by Aisha Rahman, MD
Pain relief after surgical procedures is an important part of treatment and recovery. With reduced pain, patients are more likely to have a more comfortable recovery and faster return to everyday activities.
The problem is the most common way to treat pain after surgery is using opioids, such as morphine and oxycodone, and it’s no secret our country is battling an opioid epidemic.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 75,673…
Securing the Safety for Healthcare Employees [Podcast]
Posted January 03, 2023 by Keith Blough, Robin Brown and Tracy Carter
Unfortunately, we know this reality to also be true at Summa Health. It is estimated that 3% of patients are considered violent on a daily basis. Violent situations make it more challenging for nurses and other staff to provide quality patient care, especially when they fear for their safety.
We have asked our nurses and frontline staff to share the stories of their experiences with patients being violent or abusive. Their stories deserve to be heard. The policy needs to change.
Grief Counseling: A Personal Experience That Fueled a Passion for Helping Others [Podcast]
Posted August 03, 2022 by Shannon Blower, MA Pastoral Counseling, MAR in Religious Leadership
Summa Health opens new Joint Replacement Center of Excellence
Posted March 21, 2022 by Kiel J Pfefferle, MD
Summa Health is pleased to bring to Barberton and the greater Akron community a brand new, state-of-the-art Joint Replacement Center of Excellence. The new center is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive care, all the while enhancing the patient experience throughout every phase of treatment.
Patients can expect a high concentration of expertise and resources centered on providing exceptional orthopedic care for hip and knee replacement. Summa Health is proud to…
5 surprising health benefits of volunteering
Posted August 16, 2021 by Angela Smith System Director, Volunteer Services
Volunteering makes a huge difference in the lives of others. From dishing out meals in a soup kitchen to cleaning up trash in a park to holding babies in the NICU, volunteering gives tremendous help to people in need, worthy causes and the community. Simply put, it helps make the world a better place.
But, did you know that volunteering also has benefits for you? Researchers have found that volunteering can give you a positive attitude, increased social interaction and…
How to recognize alcoholism and the need for help
Posted May 24, 2021 by Kelli Blue, LPCC, LICDC
For many, alcohol is used occasionally as a way to celebrate, relax, bond and socialize with friends and loved ones. It’s a toast to wedding nuptials or an anniversary, or a shared drink with a loved one to kick off the weekend.
When drinking is done in moderation, it is generally not considered to be dangerous to your health or mental wellbeing. The problem for some is it can be difficult to tell when their alcoholic intake has crossed the line from casual or moderate…
Top 5 Health Concerns in Northeast Ohio
Posted April 05, 2021 by Bitan Ghosh, M.D.
COVID-19 remains one of our region’s top health concerns as we navigate this pandemic. Community spread leading to new cases and unfortunate deaths have affected every one of us.
It’s important, however, that we don’t ignore other health concerns. Resuming care for regular health checkups, health screenings and management of chronic illness is critical to the overall health of our community.
Here are 5 major health concerns in Northeast Ohio that cannot be…
Battling Drug Addiction in our Community: All About First Step [Podcast]
Posted February 01, 2021
Listen to this episode of the Healthy Vitals Podcast featuring Jason Kolb, MD.
Summa Health is implementing additional safety protocols as we return to standard operations
Posted June 19, 2020 by Dr. Vivek Bhalla
COVID-19 has forever changed our society. As cases continue to stabilize in Ohio and the stay-at-home order has been lifted, it’s time to navigate our way forward with our new normal — together.
In accordance with Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, Summa Health is now scheduling procedures and surgeries.
While we understand resuming services for preexisting conditions and preventative measures is critical to the overall health of our…
How virtual visits are changing healthcare
Posted May 26, 2020 by Vivek Bhalla, Chief Medical Officer - SHMG, Executive Staff & Luke Smith, Director, Ambulatory Services, Administration - Clinical Services.
Now with much of the country shut down and under stay-at-home orders due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is perhaps more important than ever before.
Telehealth enables patients to conveniently connect with…
SummaCare Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
Posted December 02, 2019 by Anne Armao
October 15 marked the beginning of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, sometimes referred to as the Annual Election Period or AEP. Most Medicare beneficiaries have only 10 weeks, from October 15 to December 7, to make changes to their existing plan. With more than 60 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in such a short time, it’s no wonder selecting the right plan for some Medicare beneficiaries can be confusing and overwhelming. Anne Armao, Vice President of Medicare…
Trauma Center Levels - Explained
Posted September 13, 2019 by Richard L George, MD, Surgical Critical Care
While many hospitals have emergency departments, some hospitals are equipped to treat the most severely injured patients. Such hospitals are verified by the American College of Surgeons as Trauma Centers with highly trained doctors who specialize in treating traumatic injuries. These trauma centers are staffed 24/7 and are always prepared to treat patients with any injury.
Trauma Centers across the United States go through a verification process to receive their designation…
Take the First Step to Treat Opiate Addiction
Posted August 20, 2019 by Jaimie McKinnon, Vice President, Summa Health Behavioral Health Institute
With the opiate crisis in the United States growing annually, it has become essential for community organizations and those on the front lines to make resources for recovery easily accessible. Too often, those affected end up in an emergency room where providers administer a quick fix, hand over an informational pamphlet and send them on their way.
When you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. Online resources can be…
8 Technologies That Have Impacted Healthcare
Posted July 15, 2019 by Tanya Arthur, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer
The healthcare industry has had an explosion of innovation over the past few decades. These innovations continue to improve quality of life for millions of people. Let’s take a look at some of the latest and greatest in technological innovation and what impact and importance they have on the field of healthcare.
Electronic Health Records at Your Doctor’s Fingertips
Before medical records became electronic, your medical information from visits to various doctors,…
Founder's Day: The Birthplace of AA
Posted June 07, 2019 by Alan H Shein, MD, Addiction Psychiatry
Akron is fortunate to be the birthplace of AA, which has saved and continues to save the lives of millions of people struggling with their addictions. To this day, the 12 step program is by far the most effective support system to help stabilize one’s recovery.
This is where it all began! A struggling salesman named Bill W, and a physician, Dr. Bob, came together to establish a lifeline for the struggling alcoholic. Furthermore, St. Thomas Hospital is the…
Healthy Spring Break Staycations
Posted March 25, 2019 by Vivek Bhalla, MD, Summa Health Medical Group - Family Medicine
While the idea of slipping away for a tropical island vacation sounds dreamy right about now, a staycation can actually be a healthier alternative to a big trip. We’re not talking about a week on the sofa, movie-binge-style spring break. This staycation keeps you local but is also packed with outdoor activities and the arts. These types of activities can prevent:
- Processed food binge, especially on longer road trips. Kitchens and fresh produce aren’t usually close…
Gifts to Summa Health are vital
Posted December 18, 2018 by Barbara Boyce Summa Health Foundation
As another year comes to a close and a time of giving nears, please consider a gift to Summa Health. Summa is committed to providing the highest quality, compassionate care to our patients and to contribute to a healthier community. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on philanthropic support to remain on the forefront of healthcare excellence and innovation, educate the next generation of caregivers and care for all in need.
Below are a few stories about the impact of philanthropy, and how you can help.
Eliminating the need for opioids in surgical procedures
Posted November 12, 2018 by Thomas Mark, M.D. Chair, Department of Anesthesia Summa Health
It is no secret that there is an opioid epidemic in the United States. Every day, more than 115 people die after overdosing on opioids. At least 20 percent of patients that visit a physician for pain symptoms will receive a prescription for an opioid.
At Summa Health, we’re forging the movement to eliminate the need for opioids in our pre-surgery, post-surgery and pain management treatments. And it is working! Not only are patients healing quicker, their overall satisfaction with their treatment is more than triple those who were prescribed an opioid. Before we get into our success rates, let’s look at the history and side effects of narcotics.
Compassion-and-the-Opioid-Epidemic
Posted March 01, 2018 by Jaimie A. McKinnon
As many of you know, our community has been struggling to effectively manage the addiction epidemic, which is now widely considered to be a public health crisis. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations.
While much of the scientific and medical community…