Mercy Health breaks ground on new Howland Medical Center
By Ed Runyan
HOWLAND
The former 6,000-square-foot Mercy Health urgentcare and office building on Niles-Cortland Road has been removed to make way for the 50,000-square-foot Howland Medical Center.
On Tuesday, a number of Mercy Health Youngstown and St. Joseph Warren Hospital officials and dignitaries assembled at the site where the construction is about to begin.
“This new building is designed to create an environment that is centered around patient-care activity, with physicians and surgeons all on site in a single location,” said Dr. James Kravec, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Mercy Health Youngstown.
“It will improve patient communications and provide health care services that exceed the expectations of our patients,” he said of the $14.5 million facility being constructed by Jack Gibson Construction of Warren.
Dr. Kravec added the facility will provide easy access to convenient health care services “available when our patients want it and need it.” The new facility will be built alongside the 22,000-square-foot Howland Surgery Center just to the north.
“The new Mercy Health Howland Medical Center will be a state-of-the-art hub of physician offices, rehabilitation services, diagnostic imaging and lab services” with convenient parking, Dr. Kravec said.
Howland Trustee Rick Clark said the “construction of this new medical center is an important milestone for our township and Trumbull County. It represents a significant investment in our community and will further our region’s economic growth; but most importantly, it will bring expanded medical services directly to the citizens of our community to better serve their health care needs.”
Betty Jo Licata, board chairwoman for Mercy Health Youngstown, said, “When the Sisters of the Humility of Mary founded our ministry more than 100 years ago, they dedicated themselves to providing high-quality affordable and compassionate care to the poor and underserved.
“We carry on that legacy today as we commit not only to expanding our health care services, but to improving the overall health of our communities. Mercy Health truly lives the mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of our communities.”
Sister Marie Ruegg, vice president for mission and values for Mercy Health, gave a blessing for the space where officials said healing will take place.