HARMAR, Pa. (October 5, 2018) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN), Highmark Health and Emerus officials joined local lawmakers and other community leaders today at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Neighborhood Hospital the organizations are building at the corner of Freeport and Guys Run roads in Harmar.
“AHN Harmar will provide more convenient access to high-quality emergency care and other important health services to people living northeast of the city of Pittsburgh,” said Cynthia Hundorfean, AHN President and CEO. “On the heels of our groundbreaking for AHN McCandless just last week, our decision to build in Harmar is another great example of our patient-centered care philosophy, and we look forward to the exceptional service this facility will provide to those who live and work in Harmar and its adjacent communities.”
Unlike standalone emergency departments or urgent care centers, AHN Harmar will be a fully licensed small-format hospital that is open 24/7. In addition to an emergency department and 10-bed inpatient unit, the hospital will provide diagnostic imaging, as well as laboratory and other complementary medical services. It will be staffed by board-certified physicians, nurses, and other experienced health care professionals, all of whom are aligned around a high-quality care model.
Earlier this year, AHN also opened an outpatient center in the Waterworks Mall on Freeport Road, just a few miles south of the AHN Harmar—Neighborhood Hospital site. AHN’s Allegheny Valley Hospital sits off Freeport Road north of Harmar in Natrona Heights. Together, the three facilities will offer patients who live in the area a broad scope of close-to-home emergency, inpatient, and outpatient services.
AHN Harmar and other planned neighborhood hospitals are part of Highmark Health and AHN’s recently announced $1 billion investment strategy to further improve access to affordable, high-quality health care services in the western Pennsylvania region. AHN is partnering with Texas-based Emerus, the nation’s leading developer and operator of neighborhood hospitals, to build and manage the new facilities.
For five consecutive years, Emerus has received the prestigious Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award, which recognizes high-performing health care organizations that have consistently achieved the top 95th percentile or above for exceptional patient experience. Emerus also has earned the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Inpatient Experience.
Among numerous patient-friendly design elements, AHN Harmar will feature nursing stations uniquely configured to maximize sightlines and accessibility, allowing staff to easily monitor exam rooms and minimize response times. CT and X-ray procedure rooms will accommodate patients of any age, with adjacent observation rooms that keep families together during procedures. An onsite lab will expedite testing processes so patients don’t have to wait long for results.
AHN expects its neighborhood hospitals in Harmar, McCandless, Hempfield, and Brentwood to open in late 2019.
For more information, contact:
Doug Braunsdorf, AHN Media Relations
412.330.5817
[email protected]
