Goal is a centralized, comprehensive facility with multiple services in one place

Staff report

HOWLAND

Mercy Health Youngs-town, formerly Humility of Mary Health Partners, will break ground in May to construct a $14.5 million, 50,000-square-foot, outpatient ambulatory facility adjacent to the system’s Howland Surgery Center at 1934 Niles-Cortland Road.

The new facility will bring together physician offices, rehabilitation services, diagnostic imaging and lab services into one convenient location, Kathy Cook, president of Mercy Health’s St. Joseph Warren Hospital, said in a news release.

“We are excited about bringing the services people need where they need it. Our goal is to create a centralized, comprehensive facility in a location that will benefit our patients,” Cook said.

A key feature of the new facility will be access to physicians, both primary care and specialists, in one centrally located facility, officials said.

“In this setting, the primary-care physicians will serve as the hub,” said Dr. James Kravec, president of Mercy Health Physicians-Youngstown.

“We also will have on-site specialists from areas including surgery, orthopedics, physical medicine and ear, nose and throat, making it more efficient to schedule and treat patients,” Dr. Kravec said.

In keeping with Mercy Health Youngstown’s mission, the new facility will locate physicians and services in one place, enhancing access to excellent health care. That, combined with the use of electronic medical records, makes this a model of care that is comprehensive, convenient and patient-focused, he said.

Much thought and cooperation went into the planning of the facility, said Don Kline, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Health Youngstown.

“As we look to the future of health care and how we manage services and patient care, we believe this regional facility will best help manage the growing need of health-care services in the area,” he said.