Summa Says It’Ll Pour Cash into New Unit: Wadsworth-Rittman to Get $7.8 Million in Upgrades
By Cheryl Powell, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Jul. 1–Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital’s new owner is pumping millions of dollars into the facility’s intensive-care, emergency, operating and cardiac services.
Summa Health System confirmed on Monday that it has completed a deal to acquire the community hospital. The 113-bed facility in Wadsworth already has been affiliated with Summa since November.
No money changed hands under the acquisition agreement, which went into effect Friday. But as part of the deal, Summa has pledged to spend $7.8 million on renovation and expansion projects at the hospital in eastern Medina County.
Planned improvements include upgrades to the intensive-care unit and operating suites, emergency department and special procedure/cardiology lab.
Construction is expected to start in several months and be completed 12 to 15 months later, Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital President James W. Pope said.
“Summa is making dollars available to us to reinvest in the health care in the community,” he said.
The renovated emergency department will increase from 12 beds to 20 and include a fast-track urgent-care program, according to Summa, which is the largest employer in Summit County. Likewise, the ICU will triple its capacity from four beds to 12.
The plan also calls for construction of two surgical suites and a cardiac special procedures lab, which will enable the hospital to offer new vascular surgery and heart pacemaker procedures, Pope said.
“Summa’s interest in the hospital has always been driven by the desire to work with Wadsworth-Rittman’s medical staff and hospital leadership to evolve the outstanding care that is already provided to the community,” Summa President and Chief Executive Thomas J. Strauss said. “As part of the Summa family, we will continue to invest in the hospital, whether it’s in the form of upgrades to the facility itself, or investments in new technology and services.”
The community hospital has lost money in recent years but is on pace to break even next year, Pope said.
No job cuts for the hospital’s estimated 550 employees were announced as part of the acquisition.
“Our expectation is to expand services,” Pope said. “One of the great things about health care is there are always jobs for people in the hospitals. We’re always looking for people.”
Pope retained his position at Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital and recently took on additional responsibilities as president of Summa Barberton Hospital, Summa announced on Monday.
He succeeded Willard Roderick, who retired as president and chief executive of the former Barberton Citizens Hospital.
Summa acquired the community hospital in Barberton late last year.
In his expanded role, Pope is overseeing initiatives in Summa’s southwest region, which covers Barberton, Wadsworth, Rittman and Green.
Summa is particularly looking at growth in Green “and really trying to make sure adequate services are available for patients there where they live,” Pope said.
In addition to the Barberton and Wadsworth hospitals, Summa owns Cuyahoga Falls General and St. Thomas and City hospitals in Akron and has an affiliation with Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Summa also is moving forward with plans to partner with area doctors to build a 100-bed community hospital in a yet-to-be-announced location on state Route 8 in northern Summit County, probably near the future Seasons Road interchange.
Summa is continuing to evaluate the best mix of services for each of its hospitals, Pope said.
Last week, Summa announced that it will close the labor and delivery unit at Falls General on Aug. 29, citing a drop in births in recent years.
No other changes in services at Summa’s other community hospitals are being announced at this time, Pope said Monday.
“That’s one of the things Summa Health System is looking at: How do you make sure that you have the right services available at the right locations at the right time for our patients?” he said.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com.
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