Date: 05/04/2020
AKRON, Ohio, May 4, 2020 – Summa Health announced today the temporary suspension of operations of its Medina Emergency Department (ED) effective at the conclusion of Wednesday, May 6 and the beginning of Thursday, May 7. The decision was made due to a significant drop in the number of people seeking care at the facility, coupled with the need to conserve PPE.
Utilization of services at the ED prior to the start of the pandemic has historically been low, with an average of approximately only 20 people per day being treated. Since the beginning of the pandemic, that number has dropped to an average of approximately seven people per day, with some days as low as two – three patients.
“There are several factors contributing to the additional decrease in patients,” said Dr. David Custodio, president of the Summa Health System – Akron Campus. “Across the nation, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of people seeking in-person care. In addition, across our system, we have seen a significant increase in the amount of people choosing to receive treatment via telehealth.”
To ensure continued care for urgent needs in the community, the Summa Health Medical Group Medina Family Practice is offering expanded hours until 9 p.m. and walk-in appointments for people not already a patient of the practice. The office is located at 3780 Medina Rd., Suite 250. Additional information is available by calling 330.723.3256.
Summa also offers both e-visits and audio/online visits for patients through Summa Health Virtual Visit. This service provides diagnosis and treatment for more than 20 common medical conditions, including free online screenings for COVID-19 and free e-visits for COVID-19, Flu, Cold, Sinus Infection, Hay Fever, and Allergies. Additional information is available at Summahealth.org/VirtualVisit.
There is no specific timeline for the resumption of ED services. We will continue to evaluate the progression of the pandemic and the current changes we are seeing in how people access their care through services such as telehealth.
Summa Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare 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 the Summa Health Foundation, we are nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa’s clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), U.S. News and World Report and The Leapfrog Group.
Media Contact: Shannon Houser
Phone: 234.312.5432
