The Emergency Department Expansion and Outpatient Renovation Project

Building Our Capacity

Nearly 25 years since our last capital project, plans are proceeding for the next major facility expansion and renovation project. Hospital leaders have carefully studied our community’s changing needs and developed a comprehensive plan to improve the hospital’s most essential services, including:

A new and expanded Emergency Department
A new Women’s Health Center
Renovated and expanded Laboratory and Phlebotomy Services
Renovated and expanded Imaging and Radiology Services
A new Outpatient and Registration Service Entrance

This comprehensive $23 million project--- $18 million construction and $5 million equipment/technology project---will focus on improving the medical services that our community demands most often and will include the construction of a 14,000 square foot addition and 13,500 square feet of extensive renovation along the south side of the hospital providing the community greater access to quality care. Whether we have personally benefited from quick and easy access to quality Emergency Services, we all want to know lifesaving care is close to home. Timely and convenient access to outpatient diagnostic and preventative care, such as routine laboratory and radiology screening will better serve our communities’ on-going health and sustain our community’s confidence in the high quality of care at Punxsutawney Area Hospital.
This capital expansion is slated to break ground by Spring of 2024 and will be financed through a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The low-interest, long-term USDA loan terms are more favorable than other commercial borrowing arrangements and are jointly guaranteed through our membership in PMCN. The USDA loan funds are however restricted and can only be used for capital construction. Hospital leadership is also proud to announce this project is part of the Build America Buy America Act.

Groundbreakign

Service Line Highlights

Emergency Department

Our current Emergency Department is composed of seven open-bay treatment spaces and two private rooms with a total area of 3,592 square feet. While the number of patients varies significantly, the greater challenge lies in the efficient functionality of our current operation. The new ED will occupy 9,113 square feet in a new building addition and create a total of 11 treatment spaces, providing optimal privacy and improved patient experiences. As part of the new design, specific treatment areas will meet the needs of patients experiencing behavioral health issues, substance abuse challenges, and respiratory concerns. The design of the unit is based upon a radial ED design concept to provide staff a clear view of all patients at all times.

The Women's Center

Women's Health is a priority at the Punxsutawney Area Hospital. From general primary care to obstetrics and gynecological care, Punxsutawney Area Hospital currently completes 1,900 screening mammograms each year. This has led to the discovery of 15 cases of breast cancer. The new women's health center will provide a comprehensive diagnostic and screening opportunity for the residents of our community and the surrounding area.

Outpatient Service Entrance

A new state of the art entrance area will bring an ease of use to all patients entering the facility along with the necessary safety precautions. Patients will experience a streamlined process when entering the facility.

Imaging Services

The medically advanced Radiology Department at Punxsutawney Area Hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient diagnostic procedures. The imaging department specializes in the following services: x-ray, new state of the art MRI machine, bone densitometry, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, computerized tomography (CT), and mammogram unit.

Laboratory & Phlebotomy Services

This medically necessary service is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for inpatient services and offers outpatient laboratory services for the community as well. At PAH, we provide comprehensive clinical testing based on your physician’s orders. Staffed by certified medical technologists, technicians, and phlebotomists, our lab provides microbiology, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and blood bank services. Our professional staff is equipped to analyze all types of clinical specimens and perform complete blood counts (CBCs), blood films, and other specialized tests.This includes toxicology and endocrinology analyses, and urinalysis to check for a wide range of disorders from urinary tract infections (UTIs) to kidney disease to diabetes.