The Blair County Commissioners have formally signed the lease of the Altoona building that currently houses Easter Seals over to Tyrone Regional Health Network (TRHN) and ProCare.
The two organizations, in partnership, are set to provide pediatric rehabilitation services, including speech, occupational and physical therapy services to children who have been receiving therapy services through Easter Seals at that location.
Effective Feb. 13, TRHN will formally assume the lease of the building located at 501 Valley View Blvd. in Altoona. TRHN will manage the facility and ProCare will provide the therapy services.
Easter Seal’s services are set to wind down the week of Feb. 9. TRHN and ProCare are set to provide services without interruption on Feb. 16. Parents can contact ProCare with questions about patient care and new referrals.
Stephen Gildea, chief executive officer at TRHN, and Jim Foreman, CEO at ProCare, said their efforts are all about the kids and making sure they get the services they need. Both leaders have been working diligently for weeks to address a myriad of details to prepare for the transition.
“We want all parents to know that they will be able to transfer to the new services immediately. We are working to ensure an orderly assumption of staff and equipment needed to provide services,” said Gildea.
Foreman said the last few weeks, fliers were distributed to let the community know of the TRHN and ProCare plan. Parents who would like their child to continue to have services at Valley View location will need to formally transfer their child’s therapy to ProCare. “Some parents have already begun this process.”
Gildea and Foreman said community support will be needed to the effort to sustain services. TRHN and ProCare have made inquiries about community donated equipment staying in the building. However, at this point it is unclear what equipment is being left in the building and what may need to be acquired.
Parents can now schedule their child for therapy at the Valley view location by calling ProCare at 814-941-7708.