Meridian HealthCare Forms Charitable Foundation
BOARDMAN, Ohio – Meridian HealthCare sustained its growth in 2022 by adding innovative services and establishing its foundation.
The Meridian HealthCare Foundation was formed to assist patients when insurance or other funding sources are unavailable, says Larry Moliterno, CEO and president of Meridian HealthCare.
The goal is to increase access to mental health and recovery services, provide innovative pain medication and support patients’ families. This includes help with emotional support for caregivers, support for families managing recovery, and reuniting loved ones separated by addiction.
The Boardman-based organization also earned accreditation by the Joint Commission, which signifies that Meridian meets the highest standards for safety and quality of care, according to Moliterno.
Meridian has 186 full-time employees, 53 part-time employees, three contract employees, and three interns. The organization serves over 11,000 patients at 14 locations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
The hiring of Dr. Christopher Clautti in 2022 increased access to chiropractic and acupuncture services at the Meridian Road and Poland locations. Along with Clautti, two other Meridian physicians, Dr. Michael Cafaro and Dr. Jeremy Dotson, received certification to perform acupuncture.
Meridian also received funding to begin Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) services. Consisting of electrical impulses that target specific neurons in the brain, TMS is a new treatment for outpatient treatment of depression and PTSD. The service uses an electromagnet to stimulate nerve cells that control mood and alleviate depression.
Grant funding was crucial in 2022, with awards totaling over $3 million, Moliterno says. Assistance was provided by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Mahoning Board of County Commissioners, the Youngstown Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Trumbull Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Western Reserve Health Foundation.
Also last year, Moliterno brought his expertise on integrated care management to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Darla Gallagher, senior vice president of business operations, was nominated for the Athena Award in recognition of her years of professional accomplishments. And housing director Sean Robinson was honored by the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board for his dedication to helping residents transition to independent living.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
