2008

30 June, 2008

Summa Health System and Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital
Complete Member Substitution Agreement
James W. Pope appointed president of Wadsworth-Rittman and Barberton Hospitals

Akron, Ohio, June 30, 2008 – Summa Health System today announced that it has completed a member substitution agreement with Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital (WRH), making it the owner of WRH following the required review of the transaction by the Ohio Attorney General.  WRH President James W. Pope also gained responsibility as president of Summa Barberton Hospital.

Since signing an affiliation agreement last November, Summa and WRH have been in discussions about how to work together to create a more fully-integrated model to benefit both organizations and the community.  The successful member substitution agreement is a result of those talks and Summa and WRH’s ongoing commitment to delivering enhanced care to the community.

“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,” said Summa Health System President and CEO Tom Strauss.  “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.”

Under the member substitution agreement, a $7.8 million construction program is planned for WRH’s intensive care unit and operating suites, emergency department and special procedure/cardiology lab.  The emergency department will expand from 12 beds to 20 and create space for a fast-track urgent care program.  The ICU will grow from four beds to 12, two new surgical suites will be added and a new cardiac special procedures lab will offer a range of diagnostic and interventional outpatient cardiac procedures. 

“Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital is a significant community asset and joining Summa Health System – an organization that shares our same beliefs about the delivery of healthcare – will continue to ensure our success and viability for years to come,” said James W. Pope, president of Summa Barberton and Wadsworth-Rittman Hospitals.  “We made the decision to join Summa only after a careful and thoughtful evaluation and with the belief that it’s best for the community and our patients.”

The Wadsworth-Rittman Area Hospital Association will continue to operate the day-to-day activities of WRH and the Wadsworth-Rittman Area Joint Township District will continue to serve as the bond issuing agency for long-term debt.

The newly appointed Wadsworth-Rittman Area Hospital Association Board of Directors is comprised of nine members from WRH, two members of the WRH medical staff, the WRH chief of staff and two members of the Wadsworth-Rittman Area Joint Township District.  Additionally, a member of the Summa Health System Board of Directors will sit on the Wadsworth-Rittman Area Hospital Association Board of Directors and vice versa.

In addition to being president of WRH, Pope has succeeded now-retired Willard P. Roderick as president of Summa Barberton Hospital.  Now president of Summa Barberton and Wadsworth-Rittman Hospitals, Pope also is responsible for overseeing all of Summa Health System’s Southwest Region initiatives, which includes the Barberton, Wadsworth, Rittman and Green geographic areas.

Pope joined WRH in 2005 and has been successful in growing volumes, improving physician relations and patient satisfaction and has had a positive impact on the hospital’s financial performance.  Pope has more than 24 years of hospital leadership experience at community hospitals.  He received his undergraduate degree in management/healthcare from Park College at the Wright Patterson AFB and a Masters of Science in hospital and health management from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

About Summa Health System
Summa Health System is one of the largest organized delivery systems in Ohio.  Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, research and a foundation, Summa is nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery.  Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Thomson Healthcare (formerly Solucient) and The Leapfrog Group.

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