Barberton Hospital: History.

Then and Now - Our History

About Us
Summa Barberton Hospital is dedicated to providing excellent healthcare to the people of our community. To this end, we support a team of top surgical and medical specialists with advanced technology and a skilled, caring staff.

A 311-bed, general acute care community hospital, we offer inpatient services in the clinical areas of medicine, surgery, cardiology, critical care, extended care, psychiatry, oncology, emergency medicine, obstetrics and physical rehabilitation.

We also provide many outpatient services and community outreach programs. The hospital offers a Family Practice Residency program and is a major teaching hospital with the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

History of Summa Barberton Hospital...

1915 - The 50 bed hospital opens as The Citizens Hospital Company Corporation a for-profit company at the corner of Sylvestor and Wooster Rd. North in Barberton. The cost was approximately $57,000 to build; the first year's operating budget was $12,600.

1939 - The Citizens Hospital Company was dissolved, and the not-for-profit Citizens Hospital Company was formed.

1942 - 25 beds are added, but the facility remains inadequate in terms of handling the healthcare needs of Barberton and the surrounding communities.

1944 - The Citizens Hospital Company is dissolved and the Barberton Hospital Company is incorporated. Plans are laid for the eventual construction of a new hospital in order to update the medical facilities and overcome the existing problems of overcrowding and noise.

1949 / 1951 - To help with construction costs, bond issues are placed on the ballot, raising $900,000 and $750,000 respectively. Meanwhile, arrangements are made to obtain an additional $1 million through the Hospital Facilities Division of the State of Ohio, which administers federal aid under the Hill-Burton act.

1952 - Construction of a new hospital begins on land adjacent to Tuscora Park. This land is deeded over to the hospital from the State of Ohio.

1954 - On August 17, an all-new 235-bed Barberton Hospital opens, costing approximately $3.5 million to build and equip.

1955 / 1974 - The need to continue growth and meet increasing healthcare demands calls for a series of building and expansion projects. Over $6.3 million in renovations and expansions add 172 additional beds, much-needed office space and a 780-car parking garage.

1975 / 1983 - Over $7.5 million in expansion projects continues with the development of an Oncology Unit in 1980, and a Psychiatric Unit and Family Practice Center in 1981. In 1983, a new Intensive Care Area, followed by a renovated Cardiac Services Department, is opened.

1984 / 1986 - To mark the hospital's 70th Anniversary, a new high-tech laboratory is dedicated in 1984. In 1986, LabCare, the area's first hospital-based clinical laboratory testing service for area physicians and other hospitals is introduced. In 1986, the hospital achieves another first, premiering the Skilled Nursing Pavilion, Summit County's only in-hospital skilled nursing unit.

1987 - The Women's View Breast Health Clinic opens, with state-of-the-art mammography technology. The hospital also remodeled the Pediatric Unit.

1988 - The Family Centered Maternity Unit, the first in the Akron area and only the third in the state offering LDRP (labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum) suites, opens.

1994 - Dedication of the new Tuscora Park Professional Center makes treatment and consultation easier and more convenient than ever. Located across Paige Ave. from the hospital, it also houses The Cancer Center, which provides chemotherapy, blood transfusions and other procedures in a comfortable, relaxed outpatient setting. BH also becomes a major teaching hospital of NEOUCOM (Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine).

1995 - Responding to the increased need for critical care services, the hospital opens a new $15.5 million critical care wing. The addition features a 12-bed ICU, a 10-bed CCU and a 37-bed cardiac step-down unit, in addition to an all-new chapel. At this time, a letter of intent is also signed with Quorum Health Group, Inc., to buy and manage BH. The sale is subject to regulatory approval and a vote by the people of Barberton.

1996 - A 26-bed RehabCare Unit opens; in addition to a 36-bed transitional care unit for catastrophically ill patients. The vote to sell the hospital to Quorum passes by a 3-to-1 margin, and proceeds of over $75 million are used to establish the new Barberton Community Foundation. BH officially becomes a Quorum-affiliated hospital.

2000 - BH relocates outpatient physical rehabilitation services off campus in the newly constructed Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. BH celebrates its 85th Anniversary as the new Barberton High School, built from the proceeds of the hospital sale to Quorum, opens.

2001 - BH collaborates with the city, the Barberton Historical Society and Paul Testa Builders on the Anna Dean Professional Park on what was once the estate of industrialist O.C. Barber. The hospital enhances diagnostic imaging services with new MRI suite and introduction of PET Imaging. Renovation begins on 4-South, the hospital's largest medical unit. Triad Hospitals, Inc., Dallas, TX purchases Quorum.

2002 - BH begins a 3-phase Cardiac Services enhancement. Work begins on new Cardiac Catherization program. Construction continues at the Anna Dean Professional Park.

2003 – In a special May election, the citizens of Barberton overwhelmingly surpassed the 2/3 majority vote required allowing BH to purchase up to 8 acres in the northwest corner of Tuscora Park for future hospital expansion. BH presents the city of Barberton $1 million dollars for the parkland purchased, to be used for park services throughout the city of Barberton. BH’s Heart and Vascular Center, featuring new cardiac catheterization and peripheral angiography suites, opens. Work begins on phase 2 of Cardiac Services enhancement – cardiac surgery.

2004 – Skilled Nursing Pavilion eliminates skilled nursing beds resulting in name change to Tuscora Park Care Center, becoming a 50-bed in-hospital nursing home. In October, 42-year-old Lori Adamson becomes BH’s first cardiac surgery patient.

2005 – Comprehensive cardiac services becomes a reality at BH with the completion of the new Center for Cardiovascular Services, on the hospital’s ground floor. The new center includes cardiac services as well as cardiac rehab gym. First external expansion project in Tuscora Park begins with the groundbreaking of the Cancer Center.

2006 – In early 2006 Barberton Hospital began construction on a new approximately 22,000 square foot cancer center. This is very exciting for us and the community. It is our first external expansion since the community overwhelming approved our purchase of this portion of Tuscora Park.

2007 – On December 3, Summa Health System completes its acquisition of Barberton Citizens Hospital from a subsidiary of Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. The acquisition of Barberton Citizens Hospital represents the third addition to Summa Health System in 2007 and is part of Summa’s strategic plan to expand services and create greater value through regional collaboration and expansion. The hospital is now known as Summa Barberton Hospital.