The team at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center is committed to keeping every member of the community safe and healthy
By Ken McEntee
During a year in which medical professionals were heavily focused on the global pandemic, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center continued to find innovative ways to better care for its community in 2020, says Donald DeCarlo, MD, MBA, President of UH Geauga Medical Center and Associate System Chief Medical Officer, East Region.
“Our promise to the community is that we will serve you and partner with you, to keep you as healthy as possible,” Dr. DeCarlo says. “We’re going to continue to bring in the very best clinicians, nurses and other staff to care for you, and to make sure that you’re receiving the very best advanced care in a setting of your choice.”
The latest example of the innovation at the UH Geauga Medical Center is the recent introduction of robotic surgery.
“Many of the surgeries that we can perform robotically would normally require traveling to a high-level academic center,” Dr. DeCarlo says. “Now we can do them close to home where patients can remain in a comfortable setting and be cared for by people who they may be more familiar with.”
Robotic procedures, performed by specially trained surgeons, include bariatric surgery, thoracic procedures and urological treatments.
Earlier in the year, the UH Geauga Medical Center opened its new Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center to provide treatment for chronic wounds that are susceptible to painful infections and can severely impact a person’s quality of life. The center features advanced treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), a medically-recognized treatment that provides body tissue with more oxygen to heal.
“This type of facility is limited across the region and we’re proud to offer it here,” Dr. DeCarlo says. “It’s another way that we fulfill our mission of providing advanced care to people in our community.”
He says the community has been exceptionally supportive to caregivers at UH Geauga Medical Center as they work diligently to treat patients with Covid-19.
“One of the positives that came out of the pandemic was the way our community has come together to support the hospital and our health care providers,” Dr. DeCarlo says. “We’ve had people donating food, school children writing us thank you notes and drawing pictures and hundreds, if not thousands, of homemade masks donated. The Chesterland Rotary Club, with the local police and fire departments, even raised a flag in appreciation and delivered a pizza lunch for our staff. We are thankful to our community for their support.”
Caregivers at UH Geauga Medical Center, Dr. DeCarlo emphasizes, put their own health at risk on a daily basis, particularly during a pandemic.
“Certainly it’s our calling to put our patients first,” he says. “During the past year, that has become more evident than it’s ever been in the past. It is very challenging and frustrating to see patients suffer. But those acts of gratitude really go a long way for the morale of our staff. We are blessed to be in a community like Geauga.”
Dr. DeCarlo encourages people to keep up on their doctor’s visits and other health care services, and assures that UH Geauga Medical Center is safe.
“During the pandemic, we have seen an international phenomenon where people have been hesitant to seek appropriate health care due to concerns of contracting Covid-19,” he says. “This is a safe environment. Our staff is well trained in controlling infectious disease, including the spread of Covid-19. Neglecting other health problems could lead to a potentially serious or even a life-threatening condition.”
You can schedule an appointment by calling 440-901-1090 or learn more about UH Geauga Medical Center at UHHospitals.org/locations/uh-geauga-health-center. The campus is located at 13207 Ravenna Road in Chardon.