Allegheny Health Network scoops up two hospitals as its footprint in Pennsylvania grows
Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Allegheny Health Network is officially expanding its foothold in the state as it merges Heritage Valley Health System under its umbrella.
Heritage operates two hospitals, bringing Allegheny Health’s total to 16. With the acquisition, the larger network also will be scooping up dozens of patient care sites and thousands of employees, including physicians and other clinicians.
The proposed merger received little resistance from state and federal regulators, despite Allegheny’s growing market dominance in Western Pennsylvania. Heritage was facing financial pressures that led to the buyout, the idea being that new resources from Allegheny Health will improve the efficiency of care delivery, including cost containment and consistent staffing.
$285M in new investments
To that end, Allegheny Health has promised hundreds of millions in new investments to expand the offerings at the former Heritage-owned locations.
"We're going to be expanding surgical capabilities, cancer programs, cardiovascular, orthopedics," said Mark Sevco, the president and CEO of Allegheny Health. "You're going to see significant investments that are going to be made to create a great and remarkable healthcare experience."
Both Heritage hospitals, Sewickley and Beaver, have officially adopted the Allegheny name, but leadership will largely remain the same. Over the next decade, $285 million has been pledged for upgrades at the facilities to make way for the expanded service offerings, including the adoption of new technology.
“To become part of this great Allegheny Health Network organization will allow those medical specialties, as well as surgical specialties, to be enhanced [as they are added to the service offerings at] both Sewickley Hospital, Beaver Hospital and our ambulatory surgery centers," said Norm Mitry, the president of the hospitals said.
For now, the immediate focus is ensuring technology at the hospitals is integrated into Allegheny Health, as care coordination across the system’s hospitals and dozens of labs and clinics will begin immediately.
Patient care will not be disrupted, the organizations confirmed.
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