A Look Back at 2022 — A Year of Growth for Penn Highlands Healthcare
In 2018, Penn Highlands Healthcare initiated a $180 million Master Facilities Plan to enhance access to critical services and advanced care for the residents of Northwestern/Central Pennsylvania. The Plan included eight major expansion and renovation projects to modernize, improve and expand the services offered to patients at four hospital campuses and numerous outpatient facilities in the 26-county region the health system serves.
Through the years, the Plan expanded to also include construction of a new hospital in State College and an outpatient medical building in Punxsutawney.
In May 2022, ground was broken for Penn Highlands State College. The $70 million project includes a state-of-the-art hospital and medical office building. While there are eight hospitals in the Penn Highlands health system, Penn Highlands State College marks the first time that a hospital is being designed and built to the system’s specifications.
Penn Highlands State College Hospital will offer:
- Patient-centric design and atmosphere.
- One of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the region.
- Innovative therapies for advanced care.
- Outstanding amenities for convenience and comfort.
- World-class Emergency Department with 10 private treatment rooms and a trauma room for prompt assessment and expert care.
- State-of-the art Surgical Department with three high-tech operating suites and an Endoscopy Procedure Room
- 18 modern, private inpatient rooms
- Medical Imaging Department that utilizes the latest technology for the sharpest images
- Pulmonary Function Lab for expert screening, diagnosis and treatment.
State College Medical Office Building
- A QCare Walk-in Clinic providing expert care for infants to seniors.
- Penn Highlands Hahne Cancer Center.
- Cutting-edge technology with a personalized approach.
- Nationally respected oncologists.
- Multidisciplinary care including advanced medical oncology/infusion services.
- State-of-the art radiation services.
- Technologically advanced linear accelerator for precision accuracy.
- Skilled and compassionate family medicine, pediatric and specialty care physicians.
- Penn Highlands’s Life’s Journey OB/GYN providing care for every stage of a woman’s life.
- Women’s Medical Imaging staffed by professionals who understand a woman’s special needs.
- Penn Highlands Lung Center providing advanced screenings, diagnostics and treatments.
- The Heart Center offering specialized heart care close to home.
- Laboratory Services for quick, convenient and accurate diagnosis.
- Retail pharmacy with convenient drive-thru service.
The hospital and medical office building, which will be located at 239 Colonnade Boulevard in Patton Township, (State College) are projected to be completed in spring 2024.
The Punxsutawney Community Medical Building opened in July 2022. The outpatient facility, which is conveniently located at 21911 Route 119 in Punxsutawney, offers family medicine with pediatric care and walk-in services. It also provides a full-service drive-through pharmacy, a walk-in lab and imaging services. Specialty care services include diabetes and nutrition, endocrinology, family medicine, gastroenterology, medical oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and pulmonary care.
Penn Highlands Healthcare is enhancing health care services in Clarion County with the opening of the Clarion Community Medical Building, located on Holiday Inn Road – Route 68, in Clarion. On August 3, 2022, leaders from Penn Highlands Healthcare and the Clarion community participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the facility. The Clarion Community Medical Building offers many services under one roof including family medicine and walk-in services, gastroenterology, orthopedics, outpatient physical therapy, pulmonology, diagnostic imaging and a retail pharmacy.
In November 2022, the Center of Excellence opened which offers some of the health system’s largest specialties under one roof. Located on the campus of Penn Highlands DuBois West, the modern, three-story plus ground floor building is a patient-centric complex designed for comfort and convenience.
One of the most advanced features of the Center is the self-rooming technology that is being used in the Women and Children’s Center on the second floor for greater efficiency. This Center includes Penn Highlands Life’s Journey OB/GYN, Penn Highlands Perinatology and Penn Highlands Pediatrics. Upon registration, patients are given a tracking badge that directs them to an exam room. Each exam room has two entrances which are located on different sides of the room – one for patients and the other for staff. The tracking system alerts providers when a room is occupied and ready for them to enter.
The Center offers women complete gynecological and obstetrical care in a comfortable atmosphere as well as Penn Highlands Perinatology for mothers with high-risk pregnancies who require more specialized care. In addition, Penn Highlands Pediatrics provides care for all ages of children and adolescents for a wide variety of conditions.
The first floor houses the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, where Penn Highlands orthopedic providers deliver specialized care for all types of joint, bone and muscle issues. The Center has imaging services onsite to capture patient x-rays. The Rehabilitation Center’s outpatient therapies suite is staffed by skilled professionals who help people of all ages and abilities regain function through physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. The Rehabilitation Center offers state-of-the art equipment to help maximize recovery along with ample space for therapeutic exercise. Added features include aqua therapy and private treatment areas.
The ground floor houses the Penn Highlands Neuroscience suite where expert neurology and neurosurgery specialists help improve the quality of life for patients suffering from disorders of the brain and nervous system. The suite includes PH Neurology, PH Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation Disorder Services.
On December 6, 2022, the new state-of-the-art Penn Highlands Clearfield Emergency Department opened. The $6 million Emergency Department is now located on the first floor of the hospital and is accessed via Turnpike Avenue. In addition, for easier access, the ambulance entrance is now on Turnpike Avenue.
The more than 18,000 patients who visit the hospital’s ED annually will find that the renovation improves safety while it enhances functionality for hospital staff. Highlights of the new ED include:
- A separate registration area.
- A larger treatment area with:
- Two triage rooms for more efficient flow.
- Two trauma bays.
- Eight private exam rooms.
- Two behavioral health rooms.
- A designated OB/GYN room.
- An isolation room for greater safety.
- A decontamination room with a separate entrance.
The renovation includes a new Outpatient Registration area adjacent to the main lobby for greater privacy with convenient access to the Outpatient Laboratory Services.
The renovation also included a new Turnpike Café and Cottage Gift Shop adjacent to the hospital’s main lobby.