Akron hospital system unveils health reform plan

Akron-based hospital system Summa Health System announced its "Nine for '09" health care reform plan during the Summa Health Policy Summit on Monday (Source: "Summa offers cures for U.S. health care," Akron Beacon-Journal, Oct. 7, 2008).

Among the points in the new plan are:
• Making prevention a priority
• Improving coordination of care
• Increasing investment in health information technology
• Recruiting more nurses and primary-care doctors   

In an editorial in the Beacon Journal, Summa was hailed for "elevat(ing) the conversation by putting forward its own models for change" (Source: "Voice for change," Akron Beacon-Journal, Oct. 8, 2008).

The editorial added that, "If the ''Nine for '09'' proposal serves as a savvy marketing tool in a competitive health-care market, it also is a worthy attempt to promote a coherent approach, emphasizing an integrated system of care delivery to address many of the issues that frequently have defied efforts at reform."