Akron Children's Hospital plans new home for its Montrose urgent care facility
Akron Children's Hospital is planning a new $3.5 million pediatric urgent care center in Montrose that will take place the place of a current location nearby.
Children's Hospital urgent care services in the Montrose area have been available at a facility shared with Cleveland Clinic Akron General. But Children's was notified by the Cleveland Clinic during the summer that its lease would not be renewed at the building on Medina Road in Bath Township.
"They have worked with us to ensure continuity of our services until our new location is ready," Tina Sanzone, vice president of access and navigation at Children's, said in an emailed statement. "This new location is highly visible and conveniently located for our patient families."
The new location at 4118 Medina Road on the opposite side of Interstate 77 in Copley Township will be at a site previously used for Golf Galaxy — which has moved nearby to the former OfficeMax building at 37 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road.
Akron Children's Hospital's plans for Montrose center
Plans for the urgent care center detail how about half the 15,000-square-foot structure will be renovated.
The plans include an interior renovation that will have 10 exam rooms, a radiology lab, offices and a patient waiting area. Exterior improvements include facade updates and signage.
The township's Architectural Review Board was scheduled to review the plans at its meeting Tuesday.
The current operation opened as a satellite emergency room for both hospitals in 2009 at 4125 Medina Road. In 2015, Children's converted its focus there to urgent care.
High demand for Akron Children's urgent care services
In addition to the Montrose location, the Akron pediatric hospital operates urgent care centers in Boston Heights, Warren and Mansfield.
Demand for urgent care is currently so high that the hospital recommends online visits, advising that it can't guarantee patients will be seen at the centers.
"We strive to expedite service in our urgent care centers, but we do want families to know that virtual care with highly qualified Akron Children’s local pediatricians are available and could reduce wait time," Sazone said.
Urgent care services are in high demand across the U.S., but financial concerns have contributed to dozens of closures nationwide. In Ohio, Toledo-based ProMedica closed one center and merged two others on Jan. 1.
At Children's, Sazone said a winter surge in respiratory illnesses has added to patient volume and wait times.
How soon will the new center be open?
Children's Hospital officials hope the new center will be operating by the fall this year.
The center will replace operations at the Cleveland Clinic site, said Brian Lapolla, vice president of operations.
“Only one location will be open at a time,” Lapolla said.
More: 'Such a good bedside manner': Akron Children's critical care doctor retiring after 25 years
Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Children's Hospital plans new site for Montrose urgent care
