St. E’s to add new facility

By Elise Franco

Partners for Urology Health, a 13,000-square-foot center, will allow patients to see their doctor and get treatment in one place.

AUSTINTOWN — Medical representatives will break ground Thursday on the third St. Elizabeth Health Center outpatient facility to go up in the township — an $8.5 million urology center.

Connie Moorhouse, public relations representative for Humility of Mary Health Partners, said the Partners for Urology Health is a joint venture among the Northeast Ohio Urology Associates, Advanced Urology Inc. and HMHP.

“It’s a focus center for the treatment of urology and prostate cancers only,” she said.

Moorhouse said representatives from the three companies will break ground on the property at 6262 Mahoning Ave. at 9 a.m. Thursday.

“I think they’ve already begun clearing trees and some things like that, so work has already been started on the grounds,” she said. The project is slated for completion in March 2010.

Austintown is now home to St. Elizabeth’s Emergency and Diagnostic Center at 6252 Mahoning Ave. and Partners for Women’s Health, an obstetrics and gynecological facility, at 5533 Mahoning Ave. Because of the success of the two existing centers, the decision to build the new outpatient facility in Austintown was an easy one, Moorhouse said.

“We chose the location because of the ease of access for patients in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and Pennsylvania residents as well,” she said. “I think with the increased volumes of patients that we’ve seen in the area it was only logical that we increase our presence.”

Mary Harvey, director of program development for HMHP, agreed.

“It’s the second-largest township in the area, so we’re trying to look at where the most people are located to give them the health care in their communities,” she said. “That location in Austintown is a good location for people in all three counties to get to.”

Harvey said she’s not sure how many new jobs the 13,000-square- foot facility will most likely bring in because many physicians already are employed through St. Elizabeth Health Center. She said relocating doctors the potential patients already see is important.

“The staffing will be based on the volume of course,” she said. “We’ll bring in some of the physicians from other hospitals to give some identity so people don’t have to run all over town.”

Moorhouse said once a patient is in the facility, he or she will get all the treatment needed in one place.

“Each urology group will have their own offices so that patients can see their urologists and then have radiation in the center,” she said. “That’s a huge benefit for the patient.”

Township Trustee Lisa Oles said she’s excited to break ground on a business that continues to prosper in the Mahoning Valley.

“I think it’s great news any time a business in Austintown or a facility like St. Elizabeth’s expands,” she said. “Obviously they’re experiencing a great amount of success where they’re located now. It’s also good news for the residents, who will have easy access to these facilities.”

efranco@vindy.com