Thegatewaynews.com - New health center will open July 13

RPC Photo / Robert J. Lucas The MRI control area at the new Robinson Memorial Hospital facility in Streetsboro. The center is set to open July 13.

RPC Photo / Robert J. Lucas The first floor waiting area at the new Robinson Memorial Hospital facility in Streetsboro. The center is set to open July 13.

RPC Photo / Robert J. Lucas

by Bob Gaetjens

Editor

Streetsboro -- Robinson Health Center at Streetsboro aims to provide greater convenience to both doctors and patients when it opens July 13.

The 75,000-square-foot, $21 million facility will include seven Robinson Health Affiliates, including six which currently have offices in Streetsboro, according to Jennifer Farquhar, the hospital's marketing and public relations coordinator.

Robinson Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Richard Clough said the center should treat about 100,000 patients a year and bring 15 to 20 new jobs to Streetsboro during the next six months.

Many jobs are being transferred within the city from practices moving their offices to the health center, with 57 people currently employed by Robinson in Streetsboro.

Clough said the Streetsboro site at routes 14 and 43 was chosen for its visibility and ease of access.

"This site sits up high, and this is one of the tallest buildings in the city of Streetsboro," he said.

Patients will be able to access the facility from either Route 43 or Route 14.

The building will provide cost savings and efficiencies for both the doctors and patients, said Clough.

"The building was designed to accommodate our electronic medical records system," he said. "It's been designed to be totally paperless."

And saved paper is saved money, Clough said.

Similarly, the X-ray lab will operate without film, said Michael Walker, manager of the Robinson Imaging Center of Kent.

"You can view X-rays on laptops now," he said. "It's a huge cost savings for us. One piece of film costs us $5." Farquhar said Robinson spent $13,000 last year on X-ray film, although she estimated the savings would be more than that, because the new facility plans to offer X-ray options not previously available at Robinson's previous Streetsboro locations.

And X-ray techs will be able to manipulate them the same way photographers adjust digital photos, changing the exposure, contrast and other characteristics.

Being able to manipulate the images also will result in few repeat X-rays, Walker said.

Patient and physician convenience is gained through the layout of the building and the inclusion of a variety of medical services, said Jane Davis, practice manager at Robinson Health Center at Streetsboro.

With two exceptions, all first floor practices share a common waiting room and entrance, accessible from Route 43, which allows sharing of staff members, said Davis.

"Med Center has its own entrance, as well as the sleep lab, but everything else goes in through the main entrance," she said.

Throughout, the floor plan is open, flowing from one practice to another with no waiting rooms and receptionist areas taking up space.

Dr. Sarah Lang of Streetsboro Family Practice said the floor plan and inclusion of a group of practices which work together as affiliates is going to "work very well and be very efficient."

Because offices which had been scattered throughout the city and county are now gathered in one building, "Our chances of having people follow up appropriately are probably much greater," said Lang.

It also allows for greater collaboration and collegiality, she added.

"You very rarely see your colleagues except the ones in your practice," she said.

The health center will include three outpatient services also available at the hospital -- Robinson Imaging Center of Streetsboro, Robinson Rehab Center and Sport Clinic, and the Robinson Sleep Disorders Center at Streetsboro, said Farquhar.

The seven Robinson Health Affiliates include Northeast Ohio OB/GYN, Robinson Med Center One at Streetsboro, Portage Internal Medicine, Portage Orthopedics, Portage Pediatrics, Portage Rheumatology and Allergy, and Streetsboro Family Practice.

Four practices not directly affiliated with Robinson also will open offices at the health center: Summa Center for Sports Health of Streetsboro, Crystal Clinic Inc., ENT Associates of NE OH Inc., and Western Reserve Spine and Pain Institute.

Farquhar said an open house is planned for Aug. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. when the general public can get a look at the facility without an appointment.

E-mail: bgaetjens@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3941