Pictured above from left to right: Tom Basista’s gift will recognize Dr. James Hill’s leadership of UH Parma Medical Center.

For more than four decades, Tom and Stan Basista operated one of Parma’s best-known family businesses. Today, Tom is helping strengthen another local institution: UH Parma Medical Center.

In gratitude for the community that supported his family and business since his father moved it from Cleveland to Parma in 1957, Tom made a significant donation toward the renovation of the emergency department at UH Parma Medical Center. Through a dollar-for-dollar matching program offered by the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation, his gift doubled its impact. The foundation will provide up to $1 million in matching funds for the project.

“Every UH community hospital is designed to serve the needs of its local population,” said James Hill, MD, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, UH Parma Medical Center. “We serve among the oldest communities in Ohio. Every day our teams care for patients in their eighties, nineties and even centenarians. These are some of the toughest people I’ve met, but they are among the most medically fragile. They need timely access to high-quality emergency care and seamless connections to inpatient and specialty services.”

UH Parma Medical Center’s emergency department cared for more than 38,000 patients in 2024, including more than 10,000 who arrived by ambulance. Dr. Hill said demand for emergency medicine services continues to rise.

“More people are relying on our emergency department than ever before, and that trend is not slowing down,” he said. “This renovation will improve patient flow, modernize treatment spaces, expand capacity and help our caregivers deliver excellent care for years to come.”

UH Parma plays a vital role beyond the city’s borders. As part of UH’s west-side network serving 25+ communities, the medical center frequently absorbs patient volume when other emergency departments in Greater Cleveland reach capacity. Its location, strong clinical reputation and coordination with EMS providers make it a vital access point for regional emergency care.

That sense of community ownership resonates with Tom. An active volunteer with several local nonprofits, Tom has been a member of the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation Board of Directors since 2017. He has watched the medical center expand services while earning recognitions for quality and patient safety, including a 2026 Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award and an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.

“We’ve seen jumps in ratings on safety and quality,” said Tom. “We’ve gotten desperately needed new machines and built out our breast health center, cardiovascular services and other programs that meet important needs. It’s been a winning ticket.”

“Tom has been a steadfast supporter of our hospital and our community for many years,” said Bill Emrhein, Chair of the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation Board of Directors. “His generosity, leadership and belief in the future of UH Parma continue to inspire others. We are deeply grateful for him.”

“Now is a Great Time to Make a Difference”

The positive direction of the hospital and its lifesaving care for loved ones moved Tom to make his gift. But he hopes his will be only one of many acts of generosity behind the project.

More than anything, Tom said, he wants people to know how important the project is for Parma and how much it relies on philanthropy. “I hope others will join me by supporting this project and taking advantage of the matching opportunity. Every gift, large and small, will make an impact. We all have a stake in the future of UH Parma Medical Center, and now is a great time to make a difference."

To learn more or to support the emergency medicine renovation at UH Parma Medical Center, please contact Shawn Gordon, Director of Development, at Shawn.Gordon@uhhospitals.org or 330-388-7108.