Pennsylvania’s I-99 Corridor Expands Health Care
Discover how hospitals in Pennsylvania's I-99 Corridor are expanded their services and facilities to offer improved quality of care.
As Pennsylvania’s I-99 Corridor continues to attract more manufacturers, life sciences companies and tech firms, the region’s health care facilities are expanding their services and facilities and enhancing the quality of care they offer.
The region, which is comprised of Bedford, Blair and Centre counties, includes five acute-care facilities, as well as the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Tyrone Hospital in Tyrone, and various specialized treatment centers and clinics. Health care systems, such as University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Mount Nittany Health and Geisinger Health System serve Bedford, Altoona, State College and beyond.
High-Quality Care
With multiple hospitals and numerous outpatient facilities, cancer care locations, urgent care and assisted living facilities, UPMC is considered one
of the leading providers in the United States. UPMC Bedford Memorial, which celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2016, is an acute care general hospital with units for medical, surgical, obstetrical, intensive care, coronary care, and telemetry services. It also offers a full range of diagnostic capabilities.
UPMC Altoona, a 380-bed acute care hospital, cares for patients with a network of 300 physicians. Its specialties range from cancer and cardiac care to emergency medicine, neurosurgery and trauma service. In March 2015, UPMC Altoona received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from international nonprofit Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). “This certainly improves the care that we deliver,” says Jerry Murray, president and CEO, UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford Memorial. “We’ve reduced the time it takes for patients to get care.”
UPMC Altoona is developing an 80,000-square-foot ambulatory care office outside of Altoona. The new facility will include family practice, pediatric and lab services among its offerings.
Growing in Prominence
Mount Nittany Health has grown into a regional health system that includes the 260-bed Mount Nittany Medical Center and Mount Nittany Physician Group, a practice with more than 120 health care providers across 20 specialties in 15 locations. Based in State College, Mount Nittany Medical Center includes more than 40 medical specialties and services. Mount Nittany Health recently developed a lung nodule program at its Shaner Cancer Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center designed to optimize quality of life through early lung cancer detection.
Tim Harclerode joined Nason Hospital as its new CEO in February 2016. A veteran of LifePoint Hospitals, of which Nason Hospital is a part, Harclerode says he will continue Nason Hospital’s and LifePoint’s mission of delivering quality health care close to home. In the past year, the Roaring Spring facility has received $5 million in improvements. “Good patient care requires good equipment,” he says. “We have great surgeons and physicians. We have to give them the tools to do their job.”