Neither group will say what the talks are about, but Cleveland Clinic's spokeswoman Eileen Sheil says the discussions are "serious." Akron General's Spokesman Jim Armstrong will only say that the hospital is working on developing a series of partnerships that would benefit patients and the local community.
Debra Daper, associate director of the Center for studying Health System Change says the Clinic, like other large systems in city centers, may be looking to expand into more populated suburban areas.
Debra Daper: What we've seen nationally... is hospitals looking to move to areas that are more profitable where there's growth and where there's opportunities to expand.
Daper says if the Clinic partners with Akron General Medical Center in some way, it will certainly increase competition in that market, for better or for worse. Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.