An area health system announced a multi-million dollar expansion plan on Friday, which includes hundreds of new jobs.
Penn Highlands Healthcare operates hospitals in Clearfield, DuBois, Brookville and St. Mary’s and also has 90 other medical facilities. CEO Steven Fontaine unveiled 8 major building projects slated to take place across that network.
Much of the construction will take place at the DuBois campus, including expansion of its behavioral health unit to `16 beds, creation of a Level III trauma center, construction of a 5-story addition to make way for a new emergency department and development of a new three -story hub for orthopedics, pediatrics and women’s health.
“I think it’s major for our health system. This is the largest capital investment that we have had in our health system since the inception of our health system,” said Mark Norman, Penn Highlands, Chief Operating Officer,
The building projects include renovations to the emergency department and relocation of the entrance at Penn Highland’s Clearfield. Brookville will get a new three-story building for primary and specialty super clinics. And the Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home in St. Marys will also be renovated.
Hospital officials say the expansion will create about 400 jobs; 160 to 170 will be nursing positions. About 100 will be physicians, physicians assistants or nurse practitioners.
Completion of the projects is expected to take 3 years. C
