University Hospitals pledges support to North Ridgeville City Schools

University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center announced Oct. 22 a collaboration with North Ridgeville City Schools that features an annual gift from the hospital to the school for 10 years.

The funds will be utilized to support school athletic programs and will establish UH as the official health care partner of North Ridgeville City Schools, according to a news release from UH.

The gift will be funded in part by the UH Elyria Medical Center Foundation, the release said.

The new agreement builds upon the pre-established relationship between UH St. John Medical Center in Westlake and North Ridgeville City Schools, which provides support for school athletics and signage opportunities at Ranger Stadium.

“UH St. John and the North Ridgeville City Schools have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, and I’m looking forward to extending and enhancing our collaboration,” said Robert G. David, president of UH St. John Medical Center.

As part of the agreement, physicians affiliated with UH and the UH Sports Medicine Institute will provide expert orthopedic and sports medicine care, year-round, to North Ridgeville City School athletes – including concussion testing and injury tracking, according to the release.

All students involved in the school’s athletic programs will have access to comprehensive care from UH, including UH Elyria and UH St. John emergency and surgical services, regular health screenings and mental/behavioral support programs in the form of an athlete wellness program, the release said.

“We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with North Ridgeville City Schools to provide the highest quality health care to all of their student athletes,” said Kristi Sink, president of UH Elyria Medical Center. “UH Elyria has always been a community hospital, so caring for the people of Lorain County is something we take to heart.”

“The North Ridgeville City Schools are excited to continue our partnership with University Hospitals, an organization that is extremely supportive of our students and staff,” said North Ridgeville City Schools Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio. “UH is a well-respected health care system, and our partnership with UH will benefit the students and community of North Ridgeville for many years.”