Lisa Kohler, MD - AkronCantonMDNews

Summa Health System forms Affiliation
with WRH, acquires BCH
In November, Summa Health System announced
an affiliation agreement with WRH
Health System and acquired Barberton Citizens
Hospital (BCH). Under terms of the agreements,
Summa has already begun working with
both hospitals to enhance the scope of healthcare
services provided to the communities served.
WRH HEALTH SYSTEM
The affiliation with WRH was formed to
provide greater access to healthcare services,
including enhanced emergency and after hours
care, intensive care and cardiology for the residents
of Medina and Wayne Counties and the
surrounding communities. It also was formed to
increase operational efficiencies for both Summa
and WRH. As part of the affiliation agreement,
Summa will provide support to WRH in the areas
of finance, materials management and other
general operating and administrative services.
The agreement will include oversight through
the creation of an affiliation council consisting
of members of the senior leadership teams from
both Summa Health System and Wadsworth
Rittman Hospital.
Under terms of the agreement, WRH is an
affiliated member of Summa Health System.
However, the affiliation agreement makes no
change in the ownership status of either organization.
In addition, the Wadsworth Rittman Area
Hospital Association Board of Directors will
continue to be responsible for the operation of the
facility. Summa and WRH also are examining
ways in which they can work together to create
a more fully integrated future model that benefits
both organizations and the community.
BARBERTON
CITIZENS HOSPITAL
Summa Health System acquired Barberton
Citizens Hospital from a subsidiary of Tennesseebased
Community Health Systems. Driven
by its desire to enhance care for the people of
Barberton and the surrounding communities,
Summa entered into negotiations to purchase
Barberton Citizens Hospital in September.
There are no plans to make any changes to
hospital leadership or to eliminate employees.
The search for a successor to Barberton Citizens
Hospital president & CEO Willard Roderick,
who recently announced plans to retire effective
May 31, 2008, will begin in the near future.
Barberton Citizens Hospital and WRH
Health System are the second and third additions
to Summa Health System in 2007. In January,
Summa formed an affiliation agreement with
Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, Ohio.
Other Summa hospitals include Akron City, St.
Thomas and Cuyahoga Falls General. ■
8 | GREATER AKRON/CANTON M.D. NEWS JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008