Hit Television Show Gives Ohio Hospital its Big Break

Hit Television Show Gives Ohio Hospital its Big Break

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- How are the hit FOX show "Prison Break," a hospital in Akron, Ohio and the world's most renowned treatment program for alcoholism related? Find out the answer on the Jan. 29 episode of "Prison Break," which is set at Summa Health System's St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

In the episode titled "The Message," Summa's St. Thomas Hospital is a meeting place for two of "Prison Break's" characters, Michael Scofield, who's on the run with his brother after escaping from prison, and Dr. Sara Tancredi, a former addict who seeks strength from Alcoholics Anonymous' Big Book. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio in 1935. While no filming for the episode occurred at St. Thomas Hospital, several scenes take place in a fictitious version of the hospital.

"Many people do not realize the important role St. Thomas Hospital and Akron played in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous," said Dr. Victoria Sanelli, medical director of Summa's drug and alcohol treatment program. "We are excited to have the hospital's rich history acknowledged in such a unique way on 'Prison Break.' "

Summa Health System's St. Thomas Hospital also played a role in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous. In 1939, the first inpatient unit in the United States for the treatment of alcoholism was established at St. Thomas Hospital when the hospital's administrator, Sister Ignatia, and Dr. Bob, a skilled proctologist and founding member of AA, admitted the first alcoholic patient to the hospital. This resulted in a methodology for the treatment of alcoholism that spread throughout hospitals worldwide. Since that time, St. Thomas Hospital has treated more than 50,000 patients for alcohol and substance abuse. In 2006, the hospital dedicated the Sister Ignatia Heritage Center to preserve and honor the work of Sister Ignatia and those who followed in her footsteps in the treatment of substance abuse.

"Prison Break" will air at 8:00 p.m.

About Summa Health System

Summa Health System is one of the largest organized delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, research and a foundation, Summa is nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report and Solucient. For more information, visit www.summahealth.org.

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Source: Summa Health System

CONTACT: Anne Merchant of Summa Health System, +1-330-375-4930, or
merchanta@summa-health.org

Web site: http://www.summahealth.org/

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