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In struggling economy, Akron focuses on service
‘We very much believe in not making promises we can’t keep,’ the hospital’s CEO said.
BOARDMAN — Akron Children’s Hospital officials say they are very aware of the troubled economy, particularly in the Mahoning Valley, but that did not keep them from investing $31 million here to develop a new pediatric hospital.
Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley Beeghly Campus, a 32-bed pediatric hospital, opens Monday.
“In our experience, the best way to be financially successful is to focus on service and quality and networking with the community, and getting it to be part of who we are and what we do — and the economics will take care of itself,” said William Considine, Akron Children’s president and chief executive officer.
“Obviously, we need to be good stewards. We very much believe in not making promises we can’t keep. And, even though we are mission-driven, we realize we need to have resources,” Considine said.
“You have to work on it, but if you focus on the money first, you might cut off your nose to spite your face,” he said.
One plus is that Akron Children’s is creating a center of pediatric health care excellence in the Valley.
“We are cutting out duplication, centralizing pediatrics and a number of other services, which will lessen duplication over time,” Considine said.
That being said, Considine said that although Akron Children’s case mix here will be similar to that in Akron, the payer mix in Youngstown is expected to have a slightly higher proportion of Medicaid and bad debt compared with Akron.
He said that the first thing Akron Children’s looks at, however, is: Is there a need that its mission dictates that it meet?
“If there is, then management has find a way to fund it. And, we do that in collaboration with the communities we have the privilege of serving. I’ve been very humbled by the gracious greeting we’ve received as we try to connect with the Mahoning Valley community,” Considine said.
Akron Children’s has its foundation, and within that there is a Mahoning Valley Beeghly Campus account into which dollars are already going.
Considine said the $300,000 received from the Ronald McDonald Foundation to develop a family center on campus — which will have sleeping rooms, support space and a resource library — is being processed through the Beeghly campus foundation account.
Despite the economic climate, Considine said Akron Children’s is looking forward to the future at the Beeghly campus, and said that any plans to be developed would be done in concert with the community.
To that end, he said that area individuals are being identified to serve on the hospital’s board of trustees and that Akron Children’s would be receptive to setting up some type of advisory group in the Mahoning Valley.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity that has presented itself. We want to be responsible and trustworthy citizens of the Mahoning Valley. We pledge to embrace those promises that have been a part of who we are for a century. We’re all about kids,” he said.
alcorn@vindy.com