Penn Highlands Clearfield Showcases Emergency Department Renovations

Penn Highlands Clearfield, A Campus of Penn Highlands DuBois, located in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, provided community tours of its $6 million Emergency Department renovation which is nearing completion. The modernization will efficiently meet the healthcare needs of the Greater Clearfield and Moshannon Valley regions. The renovation is designed to improve safety for the more than 18,000 patients who visit the hospital’s ED annually and enhance functionality for hospital staff.

“Our goal has always been to provide the people in this region with the highest quality healthcare so they do not have to travel far when they are ill or injured,” said Rhonda Halstead, Penn Highlands Healthcare Regional Market President – Central Region who previously served as President of Penn Highlands Clearfield. “People can come to our newly renovated Emergency Department with the knowledge that they will receive expert care in a safe environment from highly skilled medical professionals who are using state-of-the-art equipment.”

For greater patient convenience, the Emergency Department has relocated to the first floor from the ground floor. In addition, for easier access the ambulance entrance is now on Turnpike Avenue.

When patients enter the ED, a separate registration area provides more privacy. The treatment area now includes:

• Two triage rooms for more efficient flow.
• Two trauma bays.
• Eight private exam rooms.
• Two behavioral health rooms.
• A designated OB/GYN room.
• An isolation room for greater safety.

“We are thrilled to have the renovation completed for our community,” said Mrs. Halstead. “When people visit the Penn Highlands Clearfield ED, they will immediately notice that the state-of-the-art environment complements the high level of care we deliver.”

In addition to the ED renovations, the project includes relocation of the Outpatient Lab and its registration area to the first floor as well as updates to the main lobby and cafeteria.

A ribbon-cutting event was held on April 7 followed by an Open House attended by nearly 1,000 members of the community as well as government and civic leaders. Those in attendance received tours of the renovated areas, numerous free giveaway items and refreshments.

Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially formed in 2011, and is comprised 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 and Penn Highlands Tyrone -- that have served area communities for the past 100+ years.

Its business continuum also includes home care agencies, long-term care facilities and residential senior living communities, as well as durable medical equipment companies and retail pharmacies.

Penn Highlands Healthcare has evolved into an organization with approximately 6,097 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. The facilities have a total of 1,513 inpatient, skilled nursing and personal care beds. The system, which has 827 physicians and 405 advanced practice providers on staff, offers a wide range of care and treatments with specialty units for cancer, cardiovascular/thoracic, neurosurgery, pulmonology, neonatal and high-risk pregnancy patients. Being focused on what is important – patients and families – makes Penn Highlands Healthcare the best choice in the region.