Firelands rebrands as 'Firelands Health'

SANDUSKY — The Firelands health care system is emerging from the pandemic with an updated identity. Firelands officials announced the system will be known, from now on, as Firelands Health. It's the official name for the parent company of Firelands Regional Medical Center, Firelands Physician Group and The Foundation for Firelands. "If the last year and a half is any indication of how a community health care provider steps up in the face of adversity, it will tell you we need to continue the tradition of excellence in our health system for years and years to come," said Jeremy Normington-Slay, chief executive officer of Firelands Health. Normington-Slay emphasized Firelands Health plans to continue to be an independent, regional health care provider. "Board Chair James O. Miller and I share the same vision," Normington-Slay said. "We have every desire to remain an independent, locally governed, community organization for decades to come." Firelands officials released a new Firelands Health logo and explained that the five green leaves in the logo represent five hospitals, past and present, that have combined to create today's Firelands Health. Those five are Good Samaritan Hospital, Providence Hospital, Sandusky Memorial Hospital, Firelands Community Hospital and Firelands Regional Medical Center. "The leaves represent life and growth, signifying the purpose and mission of Firelands to promote physical, spiritual and mental well-being for generations," said Jordan Sternberg, a spokesman for the hospital. The logo's green and purple colors are unique to the market, he said. The word "health" in the new title connects to the medical system's interest in aiding community health, Normington-Slay said. "We're just as interested in improving community health as we are in providing care for the sick and injured who enter our facilities," said Normington-Slay.Firelands Health traces its history back to Good Samaritan Hospital, whose cornerstone was laid on June 27, 1876. Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine founded Providence Hospital in 1902. Osteopathic doctors founded Sandusky Memorial Hospital in 1933. Good Samaritan Hospital and Sandusky Memorial Hospital merged in 1985 to become Firelands Community Hospital. Finally, in 2001, Firelands Community Hospital and Providence Hospital merged to become Firelands Regional Medical Center. Growth and change have continued since 2001 with more cancer services, interventional cardiology, wound care services, acute inpatient rehabilitation, a big behavioral health program with nine locations and advanced surgical procedures. The Lee C. Jewett Sports Medicine Center opened in 2020 to provide expanded rehabilitation services. The Sandusky Health Center, scheduled to open in October at Perkins and Columbus avenues, will provide a new home for primary care provided by the Firelands Physicians Group. Firelands Health is the area's largest year-round employer with about 2,500 employees.