Penn Highlands Healthcare Updates Community During Northwest Annual Meeting

Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals are busy providing care to the Northwest region of Pennsylvania and they are continually recruiting new providers to deliver expert care. This message was conveyed during the health system’s annual public meeting on July 24, 2025 at Penn Highlands DuBois.

Julie Peer, President of Penn Highlands Brookville and Penn Highlands Elk, presented information about those two hospitals, and Will Chinn, President of Penn Highlands DuBois and Penn Highlands Clearfield, provided details about those hospitals for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Highlights included the following key metrics for the four hospitals:

• 59,015 Emergency Department Visits
• 21,327 Surgeries, GI Lab and Pain Procedures
• 12,743 Admissions
• 308,041 Physician Clinic Visits

“Penn Highlands Healthcare exists to improve regional access to a wide array of premier primary and advanced healthcare services in safe and comfortable environments,” said Peer. “We are pleased to report that despite some challenges that many rural hospitals throughout the United States have been facing, we had a good year in or our efforts to recruit new physicians and providers and introduce innovative patient-care technology.”

Chinn added, “In our most recent Community Health Needs Assessments for the hospitals in the Northwest Region, we gained valuable insight into the communities’ specific health needs, including the residents’ health challenges. This understanding is crucial for us to prioritize our efforts and resources effectively in the region.”

Recruitment Penn Highlands Brookville welcomed 41 new or reallocated physicians from throughout the health system in specialties such as Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Radiology and more.

At Penn Highlands Clearfield and Penn Highlands DuBois, a total of 60 new physicians joined the medical staff at the two hospitals in specialties such as Acute Care Surgery, Critical Care, Family Medicine, Psychiatry and others.

At Penn Highlands Elk, the medical staff increased by 18 new physicians in specialties such as Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Radiology and more.

New Programs/Services and Awards

Penn Highlands Brookville

• Implemented 3D mammography in October 2024. The 3D mammogram, which is also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, is an advanced technology that captures a series of consecutive images from different angles across the arc of the breast to produce three-dimensional slice images. The slices enable radiologists to examine breast tissue one layer at a time instead of viewing all of the layers together as a flat image. An abnormality that is hidden behind tissue in one image may be visible in another image at a slightly different angle.
• Received two prestigious awards – the EON Lung Screening Gold Award and the hospital’s EVS staff earned the Crothall Award for HCAHPS.

Penn Highlands Clearfield

• Held a successful cataract screening event for the community in September 2024.
• Received five multiple-year accreditations from the ACR for various imaging services such as General, Gynecological, Obstetrical (1st Trimester only), Vascular including Peripheral Arterial, Peripheral Venous, Cerebrovascular, Renal Vasculature, Aorta Accreditation; Breast Ultrasound; CT and others at multiple imaging locations; and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Echocardiography Accreditation at the hospital and the Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building.

Penn Highlands DuBois

• Opened the Penn Highlands Specialty Pharmacy in DuBois which is a state-licensed pharmacy that provides medications for people with complex medical conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
• Achieved the Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The prestigious Pathway to Excellence designation highlights Penn Highlands DuBois' commitment to fostering a positive practice environment and a culture of sustained excellence.
• Entered into an agreement with Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to participate in a new medical student training program.
• Received the Rural Health Program of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health for the opening of the Frank Varischetti Trauma Center at the hospital.
• Received the inaugural Pennsylvania Maternal Health Designation Award.
• Received the Seven Seals Award from the U.S. Department of Defense for meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve Force.
• Named a U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital.
• Designated an ACR Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center.

Penn Highlands Elk

• Submitted a letter of intent to the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation seeking accreditation as a Level IV Trauma Center. A Level IV Trauma Center can provide initial care and stabilization of traumatic injuries while arranging transfer to a higher level of trauma care, if needed.
• Participated in “Get Screened” blood testing events with Elk County Catholic and Ridgway Rotary.
• Received the Get With the Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Bronze Award.
• Named a Hospital Association of Pennsylvania Donate Life PA Hospital Challenge Platinum winner.