In the 1950s, the village of Warrensville Heights was mostly farm land with sheep grazing on the open pastures. It was then that two groups of enterprising physicians toured the landscape and purchased acreage for their dream hospitals.

The two hospitals opened in 1957 within near shouting distance of each other – next-door neighbors, separated by a creek. Their two cultures and different philosophical approaches to patient care were the core of their existence, and sources of their early rivalry.

The history of South Pointe Hospital is as unique as the physicians and missions of the two small hospitals – Brentwood and Suburban Community Hospitals – that ultimately merged to form the new hospital. In 2007, South Pointe is commemorating its 50 th anniversary of serving the community’s healthcare needs.

Over the years, the hospitals faced financial challenges and decreases in patient population, but also triumphs and recognition for providing outstanding, diverse medical services to a growing suburban population. Brentwood specialized in osteopathic medicine, while Suburban Community offered more traditional, or allopathic, treatment methodologies to patients.

South Pointe, which was formed when the two hospitals merged in 1994, has built upon those innovations and triumphs in medical care, and cemented its reputation as a provider of excellent quality patient care. Today, the hospital is the largest employer in Warrensville Heights, serving residents and communities in southeastern Cuyahoga and northern Summit Counties.

Today South Pointe is a 275-bed acute care, teaching hospital and one of the largest osteopathic teaching hospitals in the state. It is the site of the Center for Osteopathic Regional Education (CORE) in Northeast Ohio, for the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. South Pointe is ranked as one of the 99 best places to work in Northeast Ohio with more than 1,400 employees on staff. The medical staff of 500 physicians is a blend of allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

The catalog of accomplishments in inpatient and outpatient services, acquisition of medical technology, awards and positions of leadership among Northeast Ohio community hospitals is extensive. They are testimony to the commitment of physicians who, more than 50 years ago, dreamed of setting new standards in medical care and making medical care accessible to more patients. Their dedication paved the way for Brentwood and Suburban Community Hospitals, and finally South Pointe Hospital.

Brentwood Hospital admitted its first patients on January 23, 1957. The hospital, which opened with 45 beds, overcame nearly impossible odds to keep its door open. Brentwood was founded by Dr. Theodore F. Classen, a general surgeon and doctor of osteopathic medicine.

Osteopathy is a medical philosophy developed more than 130 years ago by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, a native Virginian and frontier physician. Osteopathic medicine, in part, is based on the principle of treating the body for ailments, rather than the specific disease, and physicians believe that manipulating the musculoskeletal system influences the condition of all other body systems.

Dr. Classen, who grew up in Slavic Village in Cleveland, had wanted to be a doctor. He found a mentor in local osteopath who encouraged him to pursue his dream in medicine. During the post World War II era, physicians with training in osteopathic medicine were not welcomed at the more established and traditional, allopathic medicine, hospitals.

Dr. Classen, a general surgeon, decided to build a first-class facility that would specialize in osteopathic medicine. A bank loan, and significant financial support from members of the Polish community, particularly a hospital guild, helped him realize his dream. The name Brentwood was chosen for the hospital in memory of a “lovely” community in California Dr. Classen had once visited.

The $1.5 million facility was constructed and established itself as a teaching hospital, accepting its first interns. Over the next several years, it established residency programs in internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, pathology, anesthesiology, radiology and pediatrics.

The desire for a first-class osteopathic facility was evident at the facility. Brentwood opened with two major operating rooms, an emergency suite, X-ray units, laboratories, obstetrical services and a blood bank.

Before Brentwood opened its doors, the groundbreaking had taken place on the lot next door for construction of Suburban Community Hospital. Principal founders were Drs. Joseph Tomarkin and Edward Brickman, both surgeons.

They too sought to serve the increasing number of residents in southeastern Cuyahoga County. They wanted to build an acute care facility, and obviously were not deterred by the very close presence of another medical facility.

The 135-bed hospital opened its doors to patients on October 1, 1957 with departments for emergency service, nursing, physical therapy, radio-isotope therapy, surgery and radiology, and divisions for medical and administrative support services.

The threat to each hospital’s survival was its healthcare neighbor next door. While competition for patients and the hearts of residents was fierce, there were moments when physicians consulted each other on various medical issues and cases.

Mergers and the Emergence of South Pointe Hospital

As the decades passed, the merger of Brentwood and Suburban Community became a matter of survival. Osteopathic and allopathic physicians worked together. To survive, small community hospitals were collaborating or becoming affiliates of major medical centers.

The non-profit Strategic Health System, later called Meridia Health System, was formed in December 1984 with a mission to provide high quality medical services at competitive prices, at accessible member facilities to more residents. Initially it was comprised of Huron, Euclid and Hillcrest Hospitals. Two years later, in 1986, Suburban Community Hospital joined the team. The system was becoming a dominant health care delivery system that blanketed residents in communities on Cleveland’s east side.

Being part of that system provided Suburban Community with an infusion of funds to upgrade its facility and purchase new equipment to treat patients. Brentwood remained independent for several more years and in 1994 merged with Meridia Suburban Hospital. The two became one – Meridia South Pointe Hospital.

Services at the two founding hospitals formed the core of medical services and medical disciplines provided by South Pointe Hospital. Those services include general medical care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, intensive care, behavioral medicine, cancer care, cardiology, rehabilitation, pain management and women’s services. South Pointe has continued to build upon those services by providing patients with advanced medical treatments, and technically advanced equipment to diagnose, monitor and treat patients. This merger benefited the community by eliminating duplicate services and allowing more capital investments to improve the hospital.

Looking Ahead

Since then, over $60 million has been invested in South Pointe, including a new West Wing opened in late 2003. The Wing features a state-of-the-art surgery center, endoscopy center, private 25-bed intensive care unit, high tech graduate medical education center and convenient access for our patients and physicians. In 2006, South Pointe expanded its Behavioral Medicine services adding a Geriatric Psychiatric Unit and its Subacute Care Center from 11-beds to 29-beds to meet the growing demand for these specialized services.

We look forward to the next 50 years of caring and community outreach as we strive to be the best place to receive care, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to work.