Mayor Decides to Oppose Hospital Closing

[Michael Deneen]

Nope, not here in Lakewood. In Cuyahoga Falls.

Summa Health System is looking to close Western Reserve Hospital in that city.
Rather than simply accept the "healtcare is changing" propaganda, elected officials in that town are working with citizens to keep the hospital open.

Apparently things work differently in Summit County...there, elected officials value jobs in their communities, and believe that having a functioning hospital is important for medical care. (Strange stuff, isn't it?)

The community has launched a website and petition drive (sound familiar?)

Here is a link to the website:
http://www.protectwesternreserve.com/

Here is a link to an ABJ story on the issue:

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/web ... s-1.621257

[Matthew Lee]

Unless I am reading the article wrong, which is certainly possible given the time-zone I am in, this does not appear to be anything remotely like what is going on in Lakewood. Or am I that far out of balance?

[Brian Essi]

There is nothing in the galaxy that is remotely like what is going on in Lakewood.

[cameron karslake]

Didn't the Summa Health system just get bought or recently merged with the Clinic?

Sounds like similar shenanigans going on down there...only with the nice twist of the mayor on the side of his residents. Boy, we can only dream of such support!

[Bridget Conant]

The Clinic is in competition with Summa. They (CC) recently completed the purchase of Akron General.

Lakewood is one of a few, if any, hospitals that CC did not outright buy.