Akron General site in Stow expanding services

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by Kristin Casale

Stow Sentry Associate Editor

Stow -- Akron General Health & Wellness Center -- North has been open for less than a year, but the facility already is expanding.

The 100,000-square-foot site, which currently comprises a 24-hour emergency department and fitness center, opened last summer. But, a 42,000-square-foot, four-story addition is planned that will expand the facility's offerings to include services for cardiology, neurology and vision, pulmonary testing, physicians' offices, family medicine, an expansion of the sports performance center, a conference center, a laboratory expansion, a pharmacy, a restaurant and retailers.

According to Armstrong, the new building will be attached to the current facility.

The new construction will cost $7.6 million and is expected to be completed in spring 2009, according to Akron General Director of Media and Public Relations Jim Armstrong.

Wellness Center Medical Director Dr. Thomas Stover said the facility will continue to offer only outpatient services, but inpatient care is being considered for the future.

"We are excited to expand our campus in Stow to include more services needed in Northeastern Summit County," said Alan J. Bleyer, president and CEO of the Akron General Health System. "This new investment demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance the medical services we provide to the people of Summit County."

The current building employs more than 250 people, said Armstrong.

Stover was unable to provide how many new jobs or income tax will be added through the expansion.

"A lot of the space is going to be taken up by private physicians' offices," he said, explaining the physicians will employ staff members at their discretion.

Stover said the project is designed to create an "integrated medical campus."

"This expansion was planned from the very beginning," he said. "It was always in our plans to have a doctor presence on this campus. The timing is related to the fact that the services in the [current] facility have been very successful."

Stow Mayor Karen Fritschel said the city already has approved the facility's expansion plan and she looks forward to the completion of the addition.

"It's exciting for the city of Stow for what is going to be there," she said.

E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3917