HAN member University Hospitals’ recent $236 million expansion of UH Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, Ohio shows how large-scale investments in health care infrastructure can address community health needs and spur economic development.
From the Crain’s Cleveland Business commentary by Heidi L. Gartland, chief government and community relations officer at UH:
UH is expanding health care access while also laying the groundwork for long-term economic prosperity. Projects such as the UH Ahuja expansion don’t just build walls; they create jobs, generate income and uplift entire communities. This expansion is an example of how health systems safeguard our well-being — both physically just about treating patients — while also sustaining families, supporting local businesses and driving regional growth.
See also: Children’s Hospital Association article on how Cleveland Clinic has spent $1 billion with suppliers based in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones)—areas certified by the government as distressed and underused for federal contracting and the health system’s signing of HAN’s Impact Purchasing Commitment.