Akron-based Summa Health is furloughing about 5% of its workers to control costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furloughs for about 360 employees, or 225 full-time equivalents, were effective Wednesday, Summa spokesman Mike Bernstein said.

There are no layoffs, he said.

Summa has 7,200 employees, equaling about 6,700 FTEs.

It is unclear how long the furloughs will last or what departments were affected. Hospitals and health-care systems have had to pull back on non-essential appointments and procedures in the wake of the coronavirus and state orders.

Summa's health system includes Akron City, Barberton and St. Thomas hospitals, SummaCare insurance, standalone emergency departments and outpatient and physician offices.

Bernstein said other health care organizations across the country are finding that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their business significantly.

"The decision to furlough employees was made after a thoughtful analysis of the current needs of the organization. As a result, some employees have had all of their hours temporarily removed, while others have seen a reduction in the number of hours worked per week," he said. "Employees impacted will maintain their benefits, there will be no changes to seniority and everyone is entitled to file for unemployment for all lost hours.

"All employees affected remain valuable members of the Summa family and we look forward to returning to normal operations and welcoming them back as soon as possible," Bernstein said.

A spokesman for Cleveland Clinic Akron General said there have been no layoffs or furloughs.

There also are no plans for layoffs or furloughs at Akron Children’s Hospital at this time, said Dr. Rob McGregor, chief medical officer.

"But like all hospitals throughout the country and in Northeast Ohio, Akron Children’s is taking a big financial loss in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in suspending all elective surgeries and canceling most non-emergent outpatient appointments," McGregor said. "We will continue to assess all aspects of the evolving situation, including the hospital’s financial outlook."

Beacon Journal consumer columnist and medical reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.beaconjournal.com/topics/linfisher