The affiliation brings together the region’s largest health care providers and creates an organization that will enhance the expansion of services, the acquisition of resources, and opportunities for operational efficiencies for each member hospital. In addition, the communities served by each of the member hospitals will enjoy increased local access to physician specialists, improved quality and coordination of care, and enhanced physician recruitment and retention efforts.
“I am pleased to welcome the addition of Elk Regional to Penn Highlands Healthcare,” said Dennis L. Merrey, Chairman of the Penn Highlands Board of Directors. “The combined strength of our organizations will provide many benefits to the communities we serve. We look forward to working together.”
“It is exciting that this important milestone has been achieved,” said Robert W. O’Leary, Chairman of the Elk Regional Health Center Board of Directors. “There is little doubt that the benefits of a partnership between Elk Regional and Penn Highlands are numerous. We believe that this affiliation will elevate patient care and will be a win-win situation for the residents of this region.”
Elk Regional Health Center joins DuBois Regional Medical Center and Clearfield Hospital as top-level affiliates of Penn Highlands Healthcare. Brookville Hospital is a subsidiary of DuBois Regional Medical Center.
All of Elk Regional’s affiliate organizations will remain in place, including Community Nurses, Inc.; the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center; Elk Regional Professional Group; ELCO Housing; the Elk Regional Health Center Auxiliary; and the Elk Regional Health Center Foundation. Pinecrest Manor, the 138-bed long-term care facility, will remain a division of Elk Regional Health Center.
The Penn Highlands Board of Directors is made up of representatives, including physicians, from each of the member hospitals.
Serving with Mr. Merrey on the Penn Highlands Board of Directors are Brookville Hospital representative Ron King; Clearfield Hospital representatives William Wood, Dr. Thomas Carnevale, and Dr. Richard Bedger; DuBois Regional Medical Center representatives Edward Nasuti, Thomas Gasbarre, Richard Pfingstler, Scott Foradora, Dr. Hazem El-Kassas, Dr. Gregory Roscoe, and Dr. Carmine Marchioli; and Elk Regional Health Center representatives Mr. O’Leary, Robert Ordiway, and James Ryan. Raymond A. Graeca, the CEO of Penn Highlands Healthcare, also serves on the Board of Directors.
Each member hospital of Penn Highlands Healthcare retains its community base, medical staff, and Board of Directors. Past and future community donations designated for each hospital remain in the control of that organization and are used according to the donor’s wishes.
A strategic planning committee, composed primarily of physicians from the member hospitals, is working to develop effective approaches for long-range planning.
PHOTO: Robert W. O’Leary, right, the Chairman of the Elk Regional Health Center Board of Directors, signs the affiliation agreement as Dennis L. Merrey, the Chairman of the Penn Highlands Healthcare Board of Directors, looks on. The affiliation agreement was effective Monday, July 1.
