After a thorough review during the past year, The University of Toledo leadership has determined that the UT Medical Center will continue to operate as a teaching hospital, serving the community in South Toledo.
In addition to reviewing UTMC operations, service lines, efficiencies and its customer base, UT leaders studied the rapidly evolving health-care market to determine the most viable path forward for the medical center. They also took into account the change going on at the University, in the industry and in local communities.
“In a rapidly changing industry such as health care, it was imperative that we take the time to thoroughly review our operations, the community we serve, and the dynamics of the health-care market. We needed to be sure we could successfully adapt to the changing environment we live in and continue to serve our 80,000 neighbors effectively,” UT President Sharon L. Gaber said. “We have confidence in our team, and we appreciate the patience everyone exhibited while we worked toward determining this path forward.”
A letter sent to the UT community Jan. 24 from Gaber and Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs Christopher Cooper noted the hospital’s financial strength and stated UTMC was operating at full or near-full capacity, and together with its clinics served nearly 300,000 people last year.
“The financial health of UTMC played a key role in our analysis, and we want it to be clear that the hospital remains viable only if it continues to enhance its productivity and efficiencies going forward,” the letter stated.
UTMC will continue to be a teaching hospital for UT’s colleges of Medicine and Life Sciences; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Nursing; and Health and Human Services.
In addition, the path forward will include gradually adding more primary care and behavioral health options at UTMC to meet the evolving health-care needs of the community and to strengthen the University’s training programs.
“We are committed to evolving in a way that keeps our hospital strong, and as we do so, to communicating with you ahead of any changes,” the letter stated.
UTMC leaders are meeting with employees throughout the week to provide more information and answer questions. The schedule for information meetings is:
Tuesday, Jan. 24
• UTMC employee meeting at noon in Health Education Building Room 100
• College of Medicine and Life Sciences faculty meeting at 5 p.m. in Health Education Room 100
• UTMC employee meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Health Education Building Room 105
• UTMC employee meeting at 7:45 p.m. in Health Education Building Room 105
Wednesday, Jan. 25
• UTMC employee meeting at 7:45 a.m. in the Pinnacle Lounge
• College of Medicine and Life Sciences students and residents meeting at noon in Health Education Building Room 100
Thursday, Jan. 26
• UT Physicians employees meeting at 11 a.m. at Glendale Medical Center
Additional information is available online on the myUT portal under the new UTMC tab.
To submit questions or comments, email UTMCquestions@utoledo.edu or call 419.383.6814.
