Akron Children’s Boston Heights health center will be a hub of pediatric care

Akron Children's newest health center opens on Boston Heights on Sept. 24

09-16-2019 (Akron, Ohio)

Akron Children’s Hospital’s new $14.9 million health center in Boston Heights will be a comprehensive and conveniently-located hub of pediatric health care services, including primary care, urgent care, more than a dozen specialty care providers, laboratory, radiology and rehabilitative services.

The Cynthia Parker Matthews Building at Akron Children’s Health Center, Boston Heights, opens September 24 (Urgent Care, a day earlier) at 328 E. Hines Hill Road.

The two-story, 43,000 square foot building, is part of Akron Children’s regional initiative to bring services closer to where families live for convenient access to care. Two health centers have opened earlier this year in Mansfield and North Canton and a fourth is under construction in Portage County.

“This health center is a perfect location for so many of our patients in northern Summit and southern Cuyahoga Counties,” said Grace Wakulchik, president and CEO of Akron Children’s Hospital. “This facility will offer essential services in one address, with easy wayfinding and free parking. As we design these centers, we have families in mind in every way, from easy check-in to large exam rooms and child-friendly decor.”

Easy Access, Easy Wayfinding

When patient families enter the building, they will immediately notice an abundance of natural light, and the child-friendly colors and artwork, including a whimsical audio-kinetic sculpture by contemporary artist George Rhoads, whose “Incrediball Circus 2” has delighted children in the lobby of Akron Children’s main campus for nearly three decades. Wall murals pay homage to the surrounding area’s natural treasures and landmarks, including the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Greeters will be on hand to direct families to their appointment or they can opt to check themselves in at a kiosk. The four clearly-marked directions will point families to:

Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics – This ACHP office, the newest in the hospital’s network of 29 pediatric primary care offices, is a medical home for babies, children and teens staffed by three board-certified pediatricians - Drs. Erin Spies, Kimberly Masterson, Nirmala Parajuli - nurse practitioners and pediatric nurses. Recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home Program, the ACHP network offers well-child visits, immunizations, care coordination for complex medical conditions, and convenient scheduling, including appointments offered week nights and weekends. The office phone number is 330-342-6700.

The nearby ACHP offices on Corporate Drive in Hudson and Darrow Road in Twinsburg will remain open.

Urgent Care – Urgent care pediatricians treat common illnesses and minor injuries, such as nausea, earache, coughs and fever, during convenient weekday and weekend hours. Hours are 2 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

This service is moving from its current location on Hudson Drive in Hudson and the new location will have on-site X-ray and point-of-care lab testing as part of the diagnostic services available. If parents are unsure of whether their child should be taken to an ER versus Urgent Care, here’s a helpful guide:  https://bit.ly/2RUINHe

Pediatric Specialty Care - Pediatric specialists in allergy/immunology, endocrinology, ENT, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, orthopedics, plastics and reconstructive surgery, pulmonology, rheumatology, sports medicine and urology will be available at this location with convenient access to diagnostic tools such as cardiac ultrasound, x-ray, echocardiography and EKG. Each specialty will see patients on regularly scheduled days and times by appointment only. These services are moving from their current locations on Hudson Drive in Hudson and Darrow Road in Twinsburg.

Radiology and Laboratory Medicine – On site radiology and lab services will support providers in their diagnostic decisions. Whether it is taking an X-ray on an infant or drawing blood from a toddler, radiology and lab clinicians always take a child-friendly approach, while following pediatric best practices such as using the most minimal dose of radiation according to “Image Gently” guidelines.

Rehabilitative Services – Akron Children’s team of physical, occupational and speech therapists help children get back to the things they love to do after surgery, cancer treatment, or a traumatic injury. They also help expand skills and improve quality of life for children with chronic illnesses. With all types of toys and special equipment, this workspace is fun and “gym-like” with special zones for fine and gross motor therapies, speech therapy and children who need help with sensory integration.

Summa Health System

Akron Children’s will lease 3500 square feet of space on the first floor of the building to Summa Health System, which will offer an internal medicine physician office practice.

Building Named in Honor of Donor

The health center was named to honor the late Cynthia Parker Matthews in recognition of a $2 million gift from the Hudson-based Cynthia Parker Matthews Family Foundation.

The foundation has a history of support for Akron Children’s Hospital, with donations earmarked for the hospital’s Paul and Carol David Foundation Burn Institute, Children at Risk Evaluation Center among other areas. Cynthia’s daughter, Marci Matthews and other members of her family have provided Christmas meals for patients and their families as well as staff at Akron Children’s Hospital for the past two years.

Testa Family Gift

Testa Development, which developed the new health center, is donating the building to Akron Children’s at the end of its initial 30-year lease.

In announcing the gift in October 2018, principals Joel Testa and Julie Testa Thomasson cited their parents, Paul and Kathy Testa as their inspiration for giving back to their community.

“Akron Children’s Hospital is grateful for the generosity of the Matthews and Testa families in supporting the important work of our care providers,” said Wakulchik. “Both gifts are in honor of parents and speak to the wonderful multi-generational philanthropic legacies in our community, but both also look forward to the future by helping us invest in programs and services that will keep our children healthy on their journey to adulthood.”