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April 17, 2023/Ohio Regional

Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Donates Building to Beacon Charitable Pharmacy

New facility will allow agency to offer more services to uninsured or underinsured residents of Stark and Carroll counties

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Beth Hertz | 330.590.7377

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CANTON, Ohio: Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital has donated a physician office building near the hospital to Beacon Charitable Pharmacy to help it continue its work to provide low-cost prescription medications to members of the community.

“We are pleased to be putting this building back to use for the benefit of the community and to an organization that traces its roots to Mercy Hospital’s founders, the Sisters of Charity Foundation,” said Mercy Hospital President Timothy Crone, M.D. “Beacon Charitable Pharmacy does life-changing work in helping match donated medications with people who truly need them.”

The one-story building, located at 2525 13th Street NW in Canton, has not been used in several years. Beacon plans to spend more than $1 million to renovate the building to suit its needs.

“This is a wonderful gift that Cleveland Clinic is contributing to the community. It will help us greatly expand our ability to serve uninsured and underinsured residents of Stark and Carroll counties, enabling them to have steady access to a pharmacy to receive their medications, education and other support they may need,” said Carol Risaliti, executive director of Beacon Charitable Pharmacy.

In 2022, more than 2,300 uninsured and underinsured residents of Stark, Carroll and Lorain counties who have low or moderate incomes received nearly 25,000 prescriptions from Beacon. The wholesale value of those medications was more than $4 million. Risaliti said that by providing access to medications, the pharmacy allows its clients to use their money on other necessities. Many clients have chronic health conditions and ensuring they have their medications also reduces their need for hospitalization or other costly care.

“It makes a big impact in their lives,” she said.

Beacon is currently operating in about 4,100 square feet of rented space at Ken Weber Goodwill Community Campus on 9th Street SW in Canton. The new 5,800-square-foot building is larger and will allow Beacon to expand its services, which include a pharmacy, immunizations, counseling, education about medications and help with issues that affect clients’ health, such as food insecurity and addiction.

“We are pleased that the new building will be more like a storefront pharmacy, making it easier for our clients to find,” Risaliti said. “The location is also very accessible, right off of I-77, 62 and 30, along bus routes, and near many physician offices and the two hospitals in Canton.”

Beacon started out in 2002 as the Prescription Assistance Network of Stark County. It was collaboratively funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation and the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation to increase local access to prescription medications. It was the second charitable pharmacy in the state.

Ninety-five percent of the medications Beacon dispenses are donated. The medications are managed and distributed by Beacon’s pharmacy team.

“We greatly appreciate the relationship and support we have had with Goodwill and will continue to serve the neighborhood through outreach services at Christ Presbyterian Church, Refuge of Hope and Goodwill,” Risaliti said.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital: Beth Hertz, 330.590.7377, hertzb@ccf.org
Beacon Charitable Pharmacy: Carol Risaliti, 330.445.1086, crisaliti@beaconpharmacy.org

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 77,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,658 salaried physicians and researchers, and 19,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,665-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 22 hospitals, more than 275 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2022, there were 12.8 million outpatient encounters, 303,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 270,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

About Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital

Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital is a nonprofit healthcare organization that has been improving the health and lives of the people and communities it serves. Founded in 1908, the Catholic faith-based medical center operates a 476-bed hospital in Canton and outpatient locations in Alliance, Carroll County, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, Massillon, North Canton, Plain Township and Tuscarawas County. It has 976 members on its Medical Staff and employs more than 2,460 caregivers. For more information, visit cantonmercy.org.

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