Summa Health System - Caring For Our Community

For folks living in Northeast Ohio, especially around Akron, there's a good chance you've heard of Summa Health System. It's a big part of how people in the area get their medical needs met, providing care for many different situations. This organization has been around for quite some time, growing and changing to serve the community in ways that feel genuinely helpful and supportive, so it's almost a fixture in the area.

From helping someone through a sudden sickness to offering ways to keep up with everyday wellness, Summa Health System is a collection of hospitals, doctor's offices, and other services all working together. It's about more than just buildings; it's about the people who work there and the folks they look after. You know, it's really about making sure everyone has a place to go when they need medical attention, and that place tries to be as welcoming as possible.

This system has a long history in the region, starting out years ago and growing into what it is today, which is quite a large operation. It's a place where many people get their start in healthcare careers, and it contributes a lot to the local economy, too. We will look at what Summa Health System does, how it helps people, and what might be coming next for this important part of our community's well-being.

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Table of Contents

• What is Summa Health System All About?
  • A Look at Summa Health System's Beginnings
  • What Makes Up the Summa Health System Today?
• How Does Summa Health System Help You Manage Your Well-being?
  • Connecting with Your Care - MyChart and Summa Health System
  • Finding the Right Care Provider with Summa Health System
• What Guides the Work at Summa Health System?
  • The Heart of Summa Health System - Its Guiding Ideas
• What Does the Future Hold for Summa Health System?
  • A New Chapter for Summa Health System
• How Does Summa Health System Support the Wider Area?
  • Summa Health System as a Community Supporter

What is Summa Health System All About?

Summa Health System is, in a way, a big collection of different medical services all working together under one name. It's not just a single building; it's a whole arrangement of hospitals, places where doctors see patients, a health plan, and other groups that offer various types of medical help. This widespread setup means they can offer a lot of different kinds of support to people living in Northeast Ohio, so you have options.

A Look at Summa Health System's Beginnings

The story of Summa Health System goes back to 1989. That's when two important hospitals in Akron, Ohio – Akron City Hospital and St. Thomas Hospital – decided to come together. This coming together created what we now know as Summa Health System, a combined force meant to provide even better care for the community. It was a pretty significant moment for healthcare in the area, you know, bringing these two big names under one roof, more or less.

Since that time, the organization has grown quite a bit. It has expanded its reach and the types of services it provides, becoming a really big part of the medical landscape in Ohio. It's been a non-profit system, meaning any money it makes goes back into improving care and services, rather than to shareholders. This structure has allowed it to focus on its mission of helping people get well and stay well, which is pretty important for a community like Akron.

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What Makes Up the Summa Health System Today?

Today, Summa Health System is headquartered right there in Akron, Ohio, and it's considered one of the largest arrangements of medical care services in the entire state. When you think about its physical presence, it has six main locations, a special hospital just for rehabilitation, a large group of doctors, a foundation that helps raise money for good causes, and a whole network of other places where people can get care. It's really quite extensive, you know, covering a lot of ground.

The sheer size of Summa Health System is quite something. It has more than 8,000 people working there, all focused on helping patients and making the system run smoothly. And the buildings themselves cover a lot of space – over 3 million square feet across all its different places. This means there's a lot of room for patient care, for medical training, and for all the behind-the-scenes work that makes a system like this function. It’s pretty clear they have a big footprint in the region, that’s for sure.

The main idea behind how the medical professionals at Summa Health System work together is to offer something a bit different from very traditional hospital care. They aim for a way of working that puts the patient's true well-being at the center of everything. This means the doctors, nurses, and other care providers work very closely with each other to figure out what is best for each person who comes through their doors. It's a very patient-focused way of doing things, which is something many people appreciate, you know, when they are feeling a bit unwell.

How Does Summa Health System Help You Manage Your Well-being?

Summa Health System offers a few different ways for people to keep tabs on their own health and connect with their medical team. It's all about making things a little easier for you to access the information you need and get appointments sorted out. This focus on making things simple is pretty helpful, especially when you're trying to stay on top of your health, or when you just need to talk to someone about your care, so it seems they are trying to be very user-friendly.

Connecting with Your Care - MyChart and Summa Health System

One of the main ways Summa Health System helps you stay connected is through something called MyChart. Think of MyChart as your own personal online space for your health information. It's a way that keeps your personal medical details safe and is very easy to use. With MyChart, you can look at your health records whenever you want, which is pretty convenient.

But it's not just for looking at information. MyChart also lets you talk with your medical team directly. If you have a question for your doctor or nurse, you can send them a message through MyChart. It also makes it simple to sort out your appointments, whether you need to book a new one or change an existing one. You can do all of this any time of day or night, every day of the week, which is really quite a helpful feature for people with busy lives, you know, when you can't always call during business hours.

To get started with this, you can sign up for MyChart directly, or if you prefer using your phone, there's a mobile application you can download. It’s a way to keep your medical life organized right from your pocket, you might say. This tool is a good example of how Summa Health System tries to make getting and managing your medical care a bit more straightforward, which is something many people are looking for these days.

Finding the Right Care Provider with Summa Health System

When you need to see a doctor or another medical professional, it can sometimes feel a bit tricky to figure out who is the right person for your particular needs. Summa Health System tries to make this process easier with a tool called "Provider Finder." This is a way for you to look through a list of medical professionals and find someone who fits what you are looking for, so it's a pretty handy search tool.

With Provider Finder, you can search for different kinds of doctors or specialists, and you can learn a little about them before you decide. Once you find someone you think might be a good fit, you can often book an appointment right there online. This means you don't always have to pick up the phone and call; you can manage your appointments and other healthcare needs directly from your computer or phone. It’s a very practical way to take care of those sorts of things, you know, when you're busy and want to get things done quickly.

Beyond finding a doctor, Summa Health System also gives you the option to pay your medical bills online. They have a way that keeps your payment information safe, so you can take care of that part of your medical care from home. This kind of online access to services is a big part of how they are trying to make the experience of getting care a little less complicated for everyone, which is, in a way, a good thing.

What Guides the Work at Summa Health System?

Every organization has a set of ideas that help shape how it operates, and Summa Health System is no different. They have a clear purpose and a vision for what they want to achieve, along with a set of core ideas that guide everyone who works there. These ideas are really important because they tell you a lot about how they approach patient care and their role in the wider community, so it's good to know what they stand for.

The Heart of Summa Health System - Its Guiding Ideas

The main purpose of Summa Health System is to offer the very best, most caring medical attention to the people they look after and to those who are part of their health plan. Beyond that, they also aim to help make the whole community a healthier place. This means they are thinking about more than just treating sickness; they are also thinking about how to help people stay well in the first place, which is a pretty broad aim.

Their vision for the future is to be known as one of the best medical organizations in the United States. They also want to be the first choice for people in their area when they need medical services. This kind of ambition shows they are always looking to improve and be a leader in the field. It’s a way of saying they are serious about what they do, you know, striving for excellence.

On a day-to-day basis, the people who work at Summa Health System are guided by a few key ideas. They talk about serving with real enthusiasm, acting with honesty, taking full responsibility for their work, treating everyone with proper consideration, and making sure each person's care feels personal to them. These ideas are meant to make sure that every interaction, whether it's with a patient or a colleague, is handled with care and thought. It’s about creating a positive environment for everyone, which is really quite a good thing.

From the viewpoint of the people who work there, being part of Summa Health System is seen as a good thing. They feel lucky to work for an organization that not only helps people get better and stay well in the community but also helps the city grow economically. It’s seen as a place that fuels the area's development. This connection to the community, both in terms of health and economic well-being, is something employees often talk about with enthusiasm. They generally feel a real passion for looking after patients and serving the area they live in, which is, in some respects, a great foundation for a healthcare provider.

What Does the Future Hold for Summa Health System?

Just like any big organization, Summa Health System is always looking ahead and making plans for what comes next. There have been some recent developments that point to a new chapter for the system, which will likely bring some changes to how things operate. It's a pretty significant moment for the organization, you know, when a big change like this happens.

A New Chapter for Summa Health System

It was announced that Summa Health System will be sold to a company called General Catalyst, specifically to a part of it called Health Assurance Transformation LLC (HATCO). This agreement was made in 2024 for a price of $485 million. This kind of change is a big deal for any organization, and it means new ownership will be taking the reins, which could bring new ways of doing things, so it's a period of transition.

Before this sale could go through, the Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost, had to give his approval. His job in this kind of situation is to make sure that charitable organizations, like Summa Health System, are protected. After a thorough look by the legal team in his office, he gave his conditional approval, meaning he was confident that the agreement included things that would keep the system's charitable purpose safe. This oversight is pretty important to make sure the community's interests are looked after, you know, when big deals like this are happening.

This change in ownership means that while the core mission of helping people might stay the same, there could be new ideas and approaches brought in by the new owners. It's a natural part of growth and change for a large organization like this. People will be watching to see how this new arrangement helps Summa Health System continue its work in the community, which is, in a way, a very important thing for the people who rely on it.

How Does Summa Health System Support the Wider Area?

Summa Health System isn't just about treating individual patients; it also plays a bigger role in the overall well-being of the area it serves. It's a significant part of the community, both in terms of providing medical care and in other ways that might not be immediately obvious. This broader impact is something that many people in the region appreciate, you know, when they think about the system.

Summa Health System as a Community Supporter

The system is recognized as one of the largest arrangements of medical services in Ohio, and its roots go deep into the community. It was formed back in 1989 by bringing together two existing hospitals, showing its long-standing connection to Akron. This history means it has been a consistent presence for many years, helping generations of families get the medical attention they need, which is pretty impactful.

Beyond the direct medical care, Summa Health System also acts as a big contributor to the local economy. With over 8,000 people working for the non-profit system, it provides a lot of jobs and supports many families in the area. This makes it a kind of economic engine for the city of Akron, helping to fuel its growth and prosperity. It’s a very tangible way that the system helps the community thrive, you might say, beyond just the health aspect.

The people who work at Summa Health System often speak about their real enthusiasm for serving both their patients and the wider community. They see their work as improving the health and well-being of the people around them. This feeling of dedication means that the system is not just a place where you go when you are sick; it's also a place where people are genuinely invested in making the area a better place to live for everyone. This kind of commitment is, in some respects, what truly makes a healthcare system a valuable part of its community.