Susquehanna Health Now UPMC Susquehanna
WILLIAMSPORT – Susquehanna Health has announced it has officially joined UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), becoming UPMC Susquehanna. A formal signing ceremony was held in Williamsport today.
Susquehanna Health announced a letter of intent in May 2016 following a two-year exploration to find an organization supportive of its long-term vision for the communities it serves. A joint release said UPMC has committed to advance Susquehanna’s goals to expand healthcare services, maintain its patient-focused mission, invest in information technology, and introduce more choice for health insurance for the region.
“Today marks a new era of healthcare for our region. Building on our strong clinical quality and patient safety track record, emphasis on caring for patients and expertise in delivering care to all of the communities we serve, including rural communities, Susquehanna Health is even stronger with UPMC,” said Steven P. Johnson, President, UPMC Susquehanna. “As a pre-eminent academic medical center and insurer, UPMC brings great resources to our community. UPMC’s academic partner, the University of Pittsburgh, has a medical school ranked fifth in NIH research funding and UPMC has the third-largest residency and fellowship program in the country. UPMC is the largest medical and behavioral health services insurer in western Pennsylvania and the number one insurance plan in the state for quality and consumer satisfaction. Through this affiliation, we are able to bring a new level of innovation and advanced care to our region.”
UPMC is making a $500 million investment in the newly named UPMC Susquehanna as an early demonstration of its commitment to expand services for the people of northcentral Pennsylvania. Following this announcement, the first area of focus for UPMC Susquehanna is to expand emergency, heart and vascular, and cancer services. Other strategic priorities include establishing a neurosciences center of excellence, improving access to care with an urgent care network, and replacing an inpatient rehabilitation facility built in the 1960s. With the addition of these and other specialty services, UPMC Susquehanna will be adding jobs to the region as the services grow.
The existing foundations in Lycoming and Tioga counties and their assets of over $40 million will exist in their current form. All fundraising dollars and donor gifts will continue to stay local and be used to support healthcare services in northcentral Pennsylvania.
UPMC Susquehanna’s local governance will continue under the Board of Directors consisting of 16 volunteer business and community members along with eight newly appointed members from UPMC.
The UPMC Susquehanna Board will be responsible for quality of care, medical staff and growth initiatives.
UPMC Susquehanna is an affiliate of UPMC and a northcentral Pennsylvania based health system that includes Divine Providence Hospital, Muncy Valley Hospital, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital and Williamsport Regional Medical Center. Satellite operations include a medical plaza at 610 High Street in Flemington. Serving patients from an 11-county region, UPMC Susquehanna has been recognized at the national and state levels for quality of care. This regional provider offers a wide array of services that include cancer care, heart and vascular care/heart surgery, neurosciences including neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, OB/GYN, gastrointestinal services, behavioral health, physical rehabilitation, home care, long term care, assisted living and paramedic/ambulance services.
