Five Pennsylvania hospitals join WVU Health System
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MORGANTOWN - Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, Frick Hospital, Latrobe Hospital and Westmoreland Hospital, as well as their affiliated physician practices and outpatient facilities, officially joined the West Virginia University Health System on Thursday. Previously operated under the Independence Health System brand, the hospitals will begin operating under the WVU Medicine brand immediately.
"This marks an exciting and important moment for these hospitals and the communities they serve as they join our network of care across the region," Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of WVU Health System, said. "We are grateful to the board members and leaders of these hospitals for placing their trust in us to build upon their success and create new opportunities for growth. We take that responsibility seriously."
The WVU Health System has committed $800 million over the next five years to modernize the hospitals, including Butler Memorial Hospital's emergency room and Westmoreland Hospital's campus; grow clinical services; and expand access to high-quality care across the communities they serve.
"We will invest in their people, programs and physical infrastructure to ensure the hospitals remain strong for generations to come," Wright continued. "We're here for the long term, and together, we're going to do great things."
In January 2025, WVU Medicine Westmoreland Hospital partnered with WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital to enhance Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services for the county's most vulnerable patients, a partnership that ultimately led to a broader affiliation and Thursday’s announcement.
Patients can visit WVUMedicine.org/WesternPA for answers to frequently asked questions about the transition, including what it means for their care, providers, appointments, insurance and other important aspects of their healthcare experience.