From staff reports
The integration of Penn Highlands Healthcare and WRC Senior Services became effective Jan. 1.
“The experience Penn Highlands offers to meet the needs of aging adults through their senior living services makes this affiliation a natural fit for WRC,” said Barbara Sepich, President/CEO of WRC. “We look forward to this partnership on behalf of the many people we serve.”
Penn Highlands CEO Steven Fontaine shared Sepich’s enthusiasm.
“The expansion of senior living services is a key priority of Penn Highlands,” he said. “WRC Senior Services has a reputation for providing excellent care to seniors in Central Pennsylvania and we are delighted that they are now part of our health system.”
Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially formed on Sept. 30, 2011, and is comprised of seven hospitals Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands Mon Valley and Penn Highlands Tyrone that have served area communities for the past 100-plus years.
Its business continuum also includes two care agencies, Penn Highlands Community Nurses and Helpmates, Inc.; two long-term care facilities, Pinecrest Manor and Penn Highlands Jefferson Manor; and a senior residential living facility, Elco Glen.
Through this partnership, Penn Highlands Healthcare has evolved into an organization with approximately 5,600 workers in 150 locations throughout 39 counties in Northwestern/Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania that include community medical buildings, outpatient facilities, surgery centers and physician practices.
Providing exceptional quality care to the region, it has 740 physicians and 374 advanced practice providers on staff. The facilities have a total of 1,200 inpatient, skilled nursing and personal care beds. The system offers a wide range of care and treatments with specialty units that care for cancer, cardiovascular/thoracic, neurosurgery, pulmonology, neonatal and high-risk pregnancy patients.