News Release: Allegheny Health Network Breaks Ground on McCandless Neighborhood Hospital

Thursday, September 27, 2018

McCANDLESS, Pa.– Officials from Allegheny Health Network (AHN), Highmark Health and Emerus today held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Neighborhood Hospital the organizations are building at the corner of McKnight Road and Duncan Avenue in the McCandless Crossing Shopping Center.

AHN President and CEO Cynthia Hundorfean said the planned hospital will further enhance the scope of services AHN offers in the growing northern suburbs of Allegheny County.

“AHN McCandless will provide more convenient access to high-quality emergency care and other important health services,” said Hundorfean. “It’s another great example of our patient-centered care philosophy, and we look forward to the positive impact the facility will have on those who live and work in this community.”

Unlike standalone emergency departments or urgent care centers, AHN McCandless 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.

AHN McCandless also will be a home to AHN’s women’s health services, including its infertility program.  Area women and couples will have on-site access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other therapies in reproductive medicine.

AHN McCandless and other planned neighborhood hospitals are part of Highmark Health and AHN’s $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.

Among numerous patient-friendly design elements, AHN McCandless 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 McCandless will be closely integrated with the network’s other key facilities in the North Hills, including the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, Pediatric Orthopaedic Institute, and the AHN McCandless medical office building just up McKnight Road. When more comprehensive care is needed, AHN McCandless will provide a smooth transition to full-service AHN hospitals.

AHN also has plans to build neighborhood hospitals in Hempfield, Harmar, and Brentwood, with expected openings of the facilities in late 2019.

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About Emerus
Emerus is the nation’s first and largest operator of neighborhood hospitals. Emerus partners with leading health systems to provide excellence, empathy and innovation in health care delivery through a network of efficient, value-based neighborhood hospitals and acute care facilities. The Emerus network brings high-quality, patent-centric acute episodic and ambulatory clinical services to communities across a given market. This helps patients by positioning best-in-class provider services in the communities where they work, live and play. Emerus’ distinctive level of care earned the Guardian of Excellence Award for Superior Patient Experience in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. More information is available at www.emerus.com.

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