Independent Hospitals Disappearing In Ohio

University Hospitals announces its intent to acquire one of two of the last independent hospitals in northeast Ohio while consolidation continues in Massachusetts and New York City.

The number of independent hospitals in northeastern Ohio continues to dwindle with news that University Hospitals has signed a letter of intent to acquire Parma Community General Hospital.

"We went through a thorough process and we think we selected the very best partner," says Terrence G. Deis, president/CEO of Parma Hospital. "It was the right combination of commitment to us and the community, a quality footprint, and culture, so we feel pretty good about it. The medical staff maybe even more importantly feels good about it. There is a lot of work to be done between now and a definitive agreement but I feel a lot better about it than I felt I would have even a few months ago."

Healthcare analyst Allan Baumgarten says the UH/Parma deal comes just weeks after UH announced a similar merger with EMH Health in Elyria, which had left Parma as the largest hospital in Cuyahoga County that wasn't already part of UH or Cleveland Clinic...