CLEARFIELD – With a mission statement focused on improving regional access to a wide array of premier primary care and advanced services while supporting a reverence for life and the worth and dignity of each individual, the first meeting of the Penn Highlands Healthcare Board of Directors took place in early October in Clearfield.
Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially formed with the Sept. 30 linkage of Clearfield Hospital and DuBois Regional Medical Center. Brookville Hospital, a subsidiary of DRMC, is also in the Penn Highlands system.
Penn Highlands Healthcare and its board of directors will oversee joint efforts in such areas as expansion of services, acquisition of resources and operational efficiencies that benefit all three hospitals.
Raymond A. Graeca, who served as president and chief executive officer of DRMC for 21 years, is the CEO of Penn Highlands, while Dennis L. Merrey, chairman of the Clearfield Hospital Board of Directors, is also serving as chairman of the Penn Highlands board.
In addition to Graeca and Merrey, the Penn Highlands Healthcare Board of Directors is comprised of members of all three hospital boards. Penn Highlands board members are: William Wood, Clearfield Hospital; Dr. Thomas Carnevale, Clearfield Hospital; Dr. Richard Bedger, Clearfield Hospital; Edward Nasuti, DRMC; Thomas Gasbarre, DRMC; Richard Pfingstler, DRMC; Scott Foradora, DRMC; Dr. Rajat Malik, DRMC; Dr. Gregory Roscoe, DRMC; Dr. Carmine Marchioli, DRMC; and Ron King, Brookville Hospital.
Officers of the Penn Highlands Board of Directors are Merrey, chairman; Gasbarre, vice chairman; Foradora, treasurer; and Bedger, secretary.
A strategic planning committee has also been formed to develop effective approaches for the healthcare system’s long-range planning. The majority of this committee is made up of physicians from the three hospitals.
According to Graeca, the linkage provides the ability to keep control of the hospitals in the hands of a local board and will also provide many other community benefits. Increased local access to physician specialists, improved quality, coordination of care and increased physician recruitment and retention are just some of the major benefits that should come from the linkage.
“After three years of dedication and commitment, we are truly excited to see this linkage come to fruition. Now we can begin working toward our common goal of achieving a high quality, cost effective healthcare delivery system for our respective communities. Our vision has been, and will continue to be, to secure, enhance and expand quality healthcare services for this region’s residents,” Merrey said.
Meetings of the Penn Highlands board, and its subcommittees, will be held monthly, with special meetings called as necessary.