Summa Health System’s spokesman says the emergency room doctor transition is going smoothly, contrary to concerns raised by some hospital employees about problems, including longer-than-normal wait times.
“Our Emergency Department volumes are as expected with no gaps in service and we continue to coordinate with local squads,” Summa spokesman Mike Bernstein said in an email Monday. “We are very appreciative of the support we have received throughout this transition, both from inside the organization and across the community.”
Summa caused a firestorm in the local medical community by choosing to replace Summa Emergency Associates (SEA) with a group of doctors paid by US Acute Care Solutions at midnight Saturday when the SEA contract expired. The changeover surfaced publicly late last week and impacted staffing at Akron City Hospital and Summa facilities in Barberton, Green, Medina and Wadsworth.
The abrupt change was a hot topic Monday evening at an educational meeting attended by local doctors and nurses at the Highland Theatre in Akron. The meeting, not open to the public, had been planned before the Summa transition.
“Summa Emergency Associates has given tremendous care to patients for the past 40 years,” Dr. Ross Henschen, a retired doctor who worked for SEA for 29 years, said on his way into the meeting. “Through medical education, it has provided some of the best ER doctors across the country. That’s now going to end — and that’s a tragedy.”
Several current and former Summa employees have reported problems to the Beacon Journal since the transition, including longer-than-normal wait times in Akron City Hospital’s emergency room and patients leaving without being treated.
An Akron City emergency department nurse said Summa notified the hospital staff of the change through an email rather than face-to-face.
“We are taught to be professional, have a caring attitude and put the patients first,” said the nurse, who asked not to be named for fear of being fired. “Everything they told us not to do, they’ve done.”
Another ER employee said patients have left without being seen by a doctor because of the long wait. The employee said some patients waited four hours.
“This is unheard of,” said the employee, who also asked not to be named for fear of retribution.
Joe Natko, the Akron Fire Department’s EMS chief, said Monday that the transition has gone smoothly so far. Akron paramedics transport 120 to 150 patients a day to Akron City Hospital and other local medical providers.
“We haven’t seen any extended turnaround times for medical units,” Natko said. “It seems to be moving through there as it always has.”
Rick Schwenning, president of the Barberton fire union, sent a letter Saturday to Summa officials expressing concerns about the change. He said the union has been pleased with the quality of service provided by SEA doctors at Summa’s hospital in Barberton.
“It is unfortunate that decisions like this are seemingly made based on financial strategy or personal preference, while not advocating for the patient’s care,” Schwenning wrote, noting that the Barberton Fire Department is the third busiest emergency service provider in southern Summit County.
Jeff Wright, president of SEA, said Monday that meetings are being held and SEA’s focus is “on the community.” He noted that SEA doctors are from the Akron area and have deep roots here.
“If we have the opportunity to continue, that would be great,” he said. “If not, we will look at other opportunities that happen locally.”
Bernstein said a new program director for the emergency medicine residency program “with strong ties to the Akron community” has been selected. He declined to name the new director Monday, saying the information needs to first be shared with Summa staff. He said the name likely will be released publicly Tuesday.
Resident physicians with Summa voted no confidence in President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Malone because of the doctor switch. They announced the vote in a letter signed “House Staff Council,” which represents about 230 Summa residents.
Summa Board Chairman James McIlvaine said Sunday that the letter carried little weight because it was unsigned.
McIlvaine reiterated the board’s support Monday for Malone and his actions.
“The Summa Health Board is unanimously supportive of Dr. Malone, his leadership team and the decision to transition to a new partner,” he said in an emailed statement.
McIlvaine put the blame for the change on SEA’s leadership.
“We are focused on working with USACS,” he added.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj .