Penn Highlands Healthcare Highlights Growth, Innovation And Expanded Access In Northwest Region

Penn Highlands Healthcare expanded access to medical care, recruited dozens of new providers and invested in innovative clinical programs in its Northwest region during fiscal year 2025-2026.

The health system’s annual public meeting, held on July 23, 2026, at Penn Highlands DuBois, highlighted a year of regional collaboration, operational excellence and a continued commitment to providing high-quality healthcare at its Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands DuBois and Penn Highlands Elk campuses.

“The achievements are a direct reflection of our teams’ dedication to treating every patient with compassion and excellence,” said Julie Peer, President of Penn Highlands Brookville and Penn Highlands Elk. “By working together across our Northwest region, we’ve been able to coordinate care more effectively, share medical expertise and implement wellness and screening programs that make a difference in the communities we serve.”

By the Numbers

Across the Northwest region, Penn Highlands facilities saw heavy demand for medical and surgical services and specialized inpatient care.

• Emergency department visits: 54,555 total emergency visits.
• Admissions: 12,269 total admissions across the Northwest region’s acute, swing bed, behavioral health and rehabilitation units.
• Surgeries and procedures: 13,648 total surgeries performed across regional hospitals and surgery centers as well as 3,293 specialized GI lab and 3,323 pain procedures.
• Outpatient and clinic visits: 295,433 physician clinic and QCare walk-in clinic visits.

Strengthening the Medical Staff

To support this high volume of patient care, Penn Highlands actively grew its regional medical staff in FY 2025-2026 with nearly 100 new physicians and specialists joining the Northwest region.

At Penn Highlands Clearfield and Penn Highlands DuBois, a total of 59 new physicians joined the staff in emergency medicine, gastroenterology, acute care surgery, family medicine, psychiatry, orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, among other specialties.

At Penn Highlands Elk, the medical staff increased by 38 new physicians in emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, family medicine, podiatry, anesthesiology and more.

Penn Highlands Brookville welcomed 35 new physicians in specialties such as emergency medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, anesthesiology, radiology and more.

This influx of talent ensures specialized care is readily available, minimizing the need for patients to travel outside the area for advanced treatments.

Innovative Programs, Services and Regional Milestones

The past year saw several healthcare service expansions and recognitions across the Northwest region.

Regionwide

• Received the 2026 PA Business Central Top 100 organizations for the third consecutive year.
• Forged an academic partnership with Mount Aloysius College to provide financial scholarships and guaranteed post-graduation job placement for incoming nursing students.
• Hosted free carpal tunnel and cataract screenings; breast and cervical cancer screenings; monthly bereavement support groups; and “Walk with a Doc” events.
• Launched a new self-scheduling option, allowing patients to book online for mammogram appointments.

Penn Highlands Brookville

• Recognized with a 2025 HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge Platinum Designation.
• Earned 2025 Crothall Healthcare HCAHPS Challenge Award.

Penn Highlands Clearfield

• Opened Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy-Clearfield, which features drive-thru service, pharmacy financial assistance program, auto refill program and pharmacist consultations and medication reviews.
• Earned multiple imaging accreditations from the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Penn Highlands DuBois

• Earned 2026 accreditation as a Level II Adult Trauma Center by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation.
• Introduced an advanced INLEXZO treatment for patients with bladder cancer that has not progressed deeply into the bladder, and completed more than 100 specialized GI procedures using a new EXALT duodenoscope to diagnose and treat diseases of the bile ducts, pancreatic ducts and gallbladder.
• Opened a new Surgical Cancer Niche, which serves as a quiet library space dedicated to cancer patients.
• Introduced the “Safe Sleep Begins at Birth” program for new parents and implemented a RetCam imaging system in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Awarded 2025 PA Perinatal Quality Improvement Designation honors, recognizing hospitals that successfully implement multidisciplinary, data-driven strategies to improve maternal and newborn care.

Penn Highlands Elk

• Opened Penn Highlands Community Pharmacy - St. Marys at the Eye Center Building on the Penn Highlands Elk campus.
• Accredited as a 2025–2028 American College of Radiology (ACR) CT Low Dose Lung Cancer Screening Center.
• Hosted community “Get Screened” clinics which provided a complete blood analysis.
• Recognized as the 2025 Dickinson Center Inc. Employment Support Services Business of the Year.
• Offered “A Matter of Balance,” an award-winning program designed to help older adults manage falls and increase activity levels.

Looking to the Future

Penn Highlands is strengthening healthcare throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and remains focused on expanding access to specialty care, recruiting exceptional providers, investing in advanced treatment technologies and strengthening partnerships that improve the health of the region.

“This past year reflects what we can accomplish when our hospitals work together with a shared commitment to the communities we serve,” said Will Chinn, President of Penn Highlands DuBois and Penn Highlands Clearfield. “We remain focused on building on this momentum and meeting the evolving health care needs of our region for years to come.”