CLEVELAND – University Hospitals announced today that it has acquired 25 acres of land off the Interstate 90/Route 44 interchange in Concord Township and is considering possible uses for the site to best serve the needs of the rapidly growing communities in Lake and Geauga counties.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of patients and physicians associated with University Hospitals in the Lake and Geauga County region, and, as a result, we have analyzed expansion options in these communities for quite some time,” said Achilles A. Demetriou, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “When this property became available, we recognized how perfectly it suits our needs and we seized the opportunity to purchase it. The location along two major highways is easily accessible for residents in both counties and is highly visible.”
UH is currently reviewing options for developing the site, which is located at the intersection of Route 44 and Auburn Road and has frontage visible from I-90. Any project will be measured against the health care needs of the community and how it aligns with University Hospitals Vision 2010 strategic plan. Furthermore, all ongoing UH projects are integrating the latest concepts in health care delivery, ensuring that all UH facilities will meet the needs of the community well into the future.
“University Hospitals is dedicated to making our nationally recognized health care services accessible to everyone in Northeast Ohio. We want to provide patients with the right care at the right location to meet their individual needs,” said James Benedict, Senior Vice President Ambulatory Operations and Community Hospital Administration. “Studies show that people want high-quality care that is conveniently located, and we plan to give that to them.”
UH’s ultimate plans for the site also will complement services offered at UH Geauga Medical Center. UH recently has committed nearly $20 million to Geauga Medical Center for enhancements to facilities and services. Among the completed enhancements are a state-of-the-art Emergency Department, a new heart and vascular center, a spine and orthopaedics center, and a weight loss center. Currently, Geauga Medical Center is planning a $4.5 million surgical center expansion and developing a physicians’ clinic within the hospital.
“Whatever we choose to do at this site will be an extension of our strategy to solidify Geauga Medical Center as a regional hub for University Hospitals. The Concord Township project will provide patients another access point into our system – which is good for our hospital, our physicians and, most important, the patients themselves,” said Richard J. Frenchie, President and CEO of Geauga Medical Center. “In that spirit, we will look for opportunities to collaborate with other area health care providers at the Concord Township site.”
Earlier this year, University Hospitals unveiled its plan to invest $1.2 billion in building projects over the next five years, as part of its Vision 2010 strategy. The projects include a new Cancer Hospital, a comprehensive Center for Health at the Chagrin Highlands, an expanded Emergency Department at UH Case Medical Center, an expanded neonatal intensive care unit at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, enhancements at UH’s community hospitals and the addition of ambulatory health centers in growing communities.
University Hospitals currently offers patient care in several Lake County locations, including health centers in Madison, Mentor and Willoughby and the Lake University Ireland Cancer Center in Mentor.