(07/23/08) - Select Specialty Hospital's new
freestanding location was officially introduced to the community today at a special
ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event took place at Select Specialty Hospital's new location
at 200 East Market Street. The hospital - which is the result of a collaborative
partnership between Akron General Health System, Select Specialty Hospital and Summa
Health System - is an important and highly visible part of the Akron Biomedical Corridor.The
53,000 square-foot, two-story facility was developed by Wojno Development in conjunction
with Legacy Partners. In this new state-of-the-art facility, Select Specialty is a
spacious 60-bed hospital with private patient rooms, six high-observation beds, a CT
scanner, telemetry, and lab and radiology services.
Speaking at the event were: Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic; Robert Ortenzio, CEO of Select
Medical Corporation, the parent company of Select Specialty Hospital; Tom Strauss,
President & CEO of Summa Health System; Alan Bleyer, President & CEO of Akron
General Health System; and Mike Wojno of Wojno Development. Kimberly Thomas, CEO of Select
Specialty Hospital - Akron, served as mistress of ceremonies for the event, which also
included tours of the hospital and a light lunch buffet.
"Together, we have joined forces to provide an enhanced level of long-term acute
care to benefit the Greater Akron community," said Kimberly Thomas, Chief Executive
Officer of Select Specialty Hospital - Akron. "We have created greater access to and
a heightened awareness of the vital services that long-term acute care hospitals provide
to medically complex and critically ill individuals."
In the past, Select Specialty Hospital had two long-term acute care hospitals in the
Greater Akron area, which operated as "hospitals within hospitals," and were
located within both Akron General and Summa's Akron City Hospital. Upon completion of the
new facility at 200 East Market Street, both Select Specialty Hospitals relocated to this
freestanding site.
Select Specialty Hospital treats patients who require a longer acute care
hospitalization to promote healing and recovery from critical and complex medical and
surgical conditions. A variety of programs and services are offered including
pulmonary/ventilator weaning, wound care and heart failure. Patients benefit from an
integrated approach of intensive nursing care, focused respiratory services and
individualized therapies.
Select Specialty Hospital is part of Select Medical Corporation, a national provider of
specialized health care encompassing long-term acute care, inpatient medical
rehabilitation, outpatient physical rehabilitation and contract therapy. Founded in 1996,
Select Medical is a privately held company headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
with 22,000 employees throughout the United States.
-End-
Mayor Don Plusquellic helps cut the ribbon on the brand new Select Specialty Hospital on
East Market Street. The facility is a long term, acute care center and is a partnership
between Akron General Medical Center and Summa Health Systems of Akron. (Far left is Mike
Wojno, president and CEO Wojno Development. Man on far right is Robert Ortenzio, CEO,
Select Medical Corporation. Woman is Kimberly Thomas, CEO, Select Specialty Hospital
– Akron.) -- click image to enlarge |
Editor's Note: Please see below for quotes from the five dignitaries who
spoke at the event.
Select Specialty Hospital - Akron
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Dignitary Quotes
Mayor Donald Plusquellic
"This collaboration between Akron General and Summa is in the best interests of
the whole community and sets the stage for more cooperative efforts in the future. The
location in the Akron Biomedical Corridor that we announced two years ago further
identifies this district as the place where medical treatment and biomedical research
interact to create jobs for our residents."
Alan Bleyer, President & CEO of Akron General Health System
"As our population ages, long-term acute care will become an increasingly
important component of the healthcare continuum. We appreciate and commend Select Medical
Corporation for its decision to build a new long-term acute care facility in the city of
Akron. Akron General is proud to be a part of this much-needed service in our
community."
Tom Strauss, President & CEO of Summa Health System
"Being actively involved in the planning and development of the long-term acute
care hospital was and continues to be very important to all of us at Summa. We strive to
provide the very best healthcare available because we believe that it's not only what the
community deserves, but our responsibility as a healthcare organization. This new facility
supports that belief. Equally important, it has the full support of not one, but three
healthcare organizations working collaboratively to provide the very best care
possible."
Mike Wojno, Wojno Development
"This collaboration between competitors, private corporations and government is
truly revolutionary. The bricks and mortar only show the physical evidence of the synergy
that such 'co-opetition' can provide to a community such as ours. I applaud the
stakeholders for coming together for the common good. This project will certainly
differentiate us from other communities."
Contact:
Carolyn Curnane
Select Medical Corporation
(610) 992-7176
