Penn Highlands Healthcare provides medical care to Pennsylvanians while stimulating the Commonwealth's economy. According to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (H`), the eight Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals in northwest, central and southwest Pennsylvania provided a total benefit of more than $1.8 billion to the economy in fiscal year 2022 Pennsylvania. This benefit includes $836.6 million in hospital expenses for goods and services necessary to provide health care services and support hospital operations, as well as employee salaries, wages and benefits.
In fiscal year 2022, Penn Highlands Healthcare employed approximately 6,200 employees. In addition to the direct impact, the ripple effect contributed more than $991.2 million to Pennsylvania's economy through business interactions with other industries as well as the economic activity resulting from the circulation of hospital funds throughout the Commonwealth.
Impact on Central Pennsylvania
As reported by H`, the two Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals in central Pennsylvania – Penn Highlands Huntingdon and Penn Highlands Tyrone – represented more than $138.8 million in total economic benefit to the regional economy in fiscal year 2022.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, economic spending for Penn Highlands Huntingdon totaled $54.9 million. Penn Highlands Huntingdon has 267 employees. In addition to the direct impact, the ripple effect contributed more than $47.1 million to the regional economy, for a total benefit of $102 million from Penn Highlands Huntingdon.
Economic spending for Penn Highlands Tyrone totaled $23.9 million. Penn Highlands Tyrone has 158 employees. In addition to the direct impact, the ripple effect contributed more than $12.8 million to the regional economy, for a total benefit from Penn Highlands Tyrone of $36.7 million.
“Not only do our hospitals provide convenient access to a wide range of first-class primary care and advanced health services, but the economic impact we have on the region also helps improve the quality of life for the people who call central Pennsylvania home.” said Rhonda Halstead, regional market president for the Central Region at Penn Highlands Healthcare.
Penn Highlands Healthcare is continually recruiting new physicians and providers for Penn Highlands Huntingdon and Penn Highlands Tyrone. Since 2022, the health system has welcomed 35 physicians and advanced practice providers to the Central Region and expanded services to the communities it serves.
One of the health system's largest expansion projects to date is the construction of Penn Highlands State College, a $70 million hospital and medical office building just off I-99 at Colonnade Boulevard in State College. The new facility, scheduled to open in summer 2024, will offer a variety of medical services ranging from a state-of-the-art emergency room to advanced cancer care – all while keeping the patient experience in mind. The hospital will have an emergency department with 10 private treatment rooms; a surgical department with three state-of-the-art operating rooms and an endoscopy procedure room; 18 private inpatient rooms; a medical imaging department that uses advanced imaging equipment to produce the sharpest images; and a pulmonary function laboratory for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Adjacent to the hospital will be a 32,000 square meter medical office building, which will include general practice and specialist practices and providers. Penn Highlands Hahne Cancer Center, which will offer advanced medical oncology, radiation oncology and infusion services; Penn Highlands Heart Center; Penn Highlands Lung Center; a retail pharmacy; and more.
Penn Highlands Huntingdon invested $9 million to expand and improve services, including the installation of a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratory and angiography system; an expanded behavioral health department; a new Hahne cancer; an expanded outpatient infusion center; and upgrades to its electronic medical record. Penn Highlands Huntingdon continually receives recognition for its outstanding patient care. For three consecutive years (2021-2023), the hospital has been named one of the Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. In 2023, Penn Highlands Huntingdon was named a “Top Hospital for Staff Responsiveness” by Becker's.
Penn Highlands Tyrone has completed projects to provide easier access for patients and visitors, including improvements to the main entrance and parking lots. In 2022, the hospital received The Chartis Center for Rural Health – Performance Leadership Award in Patient Perspective.
Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially founded in 2011 and consists of eight hospitals – Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands Connellsville, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands Mon Valley, Penn Highlands Tyrone – that have been serving for more communities in the region for more than 100 years. Penn Highlands State College, a new hospital with a patient-centered design and atmosphere, is scheduled to open in 2024. The health system's business continuum also includes a home care agency, long-term care facilities and senior living communities, as well as durable medical equipment companies and retail pharmacies.
Penn Highlands Healthcare has grown into an organization with approximately 6,200 employees at more than 150 locations in 26 counties in Pennsylvania, including community medical buildings, outpatient facilities, surgery centers and physician offices. In total, the facilities have 1,396 inpatient nursing and care beds. The system, comprised of 849 physicians and 427 advanced practice providers, provides a broad range of care and treatments with specialty units for cancer patients, cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, pulmonology, neonatal and high-risk pregnancy patients.
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