Akron General Medical Center’s mission is to improve the health and lives of its patients and community, and it does this not only by providing health care but by offering programs and health screenings free of charge to the community.
Akron General prioritizes its efforts and resources based on its key strengths in the areas of heart and vascular, cancer, trauma/critical care and maternal/child health. Its goals are to improve community access to primary health care services, reduce the area’s infant mortality rate and reduce acute illness in those unable to pay for their care through prevention and early intervention.
In 2004, the not-for-profit teaching hospital, led by CEO Alan J. Bleyer, provided $14 million in charity care for uninsured people and on an ongoing basis absorbs the costs associated with providing a wide range of health improvement programs and health screenings to benefit the community.
The medical center also provided more than $1 million in community benefit value last year through its Community Health Initiatives Fund, established in 1998 through donor contributions to the Akron General Development Foundation to provide money for collaborative initiatives designed to improve community health.
In addition, the hospital partners with area organizations with similar health improvement goals, allowing it to improve more lives that it could working alone. Through its support, Akron General Medical Center has had a positive impact on organizations including Muffins for Mammograms, Pink Ribbon Project, Akron Reads, Healthy Connections Network and Breast Education Screening and Treatment.
The hospital, staffed by more than 1,000 physicians, 3,400 health care professionals and support staff, and 550 volunteers, serves a population of more than 1.2 million people. Many of its employees are involved with community health issues and contributed thousands of hours in volunteer service last year.
Akron General Medical Center is ranked among U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Hospitals and is on Solucient’s list of Top 10 Hospitals.
How to reach: Akron General Medical Center, (330) 344-6000 or www.agmc.org
