Penn Highlands Healthcare Highlights Growth, Clinical Excellence in Central Region

Penn Highlands Healthcare expanded access to medical care, recruited dozens of new providers and invested in specialized clinical programs in its Central region during fiscal year 2025-2026.

The health system’s annual public meeting, held September 23, 2026, at the Education Center on the Penn Highlands Huntingdon campus, highlighted a year of regional collaboration, operational excellence and a continued commitment to providing high-quality healthcare at Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands State College and Penn Highlands Tyrone.

“Our central region continued to see remarkable growth in patient care and service capacity over the past year,” said Rhonda Halstead, Regional Market President – Central Region, at Penn Highlands Healthcare. “As we look to the future, Penn Highlands remains dedicated to investing in cutting-edge medical technologies, attracting talented clinical professionals and bringing compassionate, high-quality healthcare closer to home for the communities we serve.”

By the Numbers

Across the Central region, Penn Highlands facilities saw strong demand for medical and surgical services and specialized inpatient care.

• Emergency department visits: 29,229 total emergency visits.

• Admissions: 3,125 total admissions across the Central region’s acute, behavioral health and rehabilitation units.

• Surgeries and procedures: 4,898 total surgeries performed across regional hospitals and surgery centers as well as 1,342 specialized GI lab procedures.

• Outpatient and clinic visits: 39,118 physician clinic and QCare walk-in clinic visits.

Strengthening the Medical Staff

To support this high volume of patient care, Penn Highlands actively grew its regional medical staff in FY 2025-2026 with more than 40 new physicians and specialists joining the Central region.

New providers joined in specialties including cardiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, family medicine, psychiatry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, radiology, pathology and anesthesiology, among others.

This influx of talent expands access to specialized care and helps reduce the need for patients to travel outside the area for advanced treatments.

Quality Achievements and Recognitions

The annual report also highlights a number of achievements within the Central region.

Penn Highlands Huntingdon

• Recognized among the nation’s cleanest hospitals, earning a five-star cleanliness rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

• The cardiac catheterization/PCI program received accreditation from Corazon, a national leader in cardiovascular services.

• The cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program received certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

• Earned certification by the American College of Radiology.

• Designated a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology.

Penn Highlands State College

• Earned certification by the American College of Radiology.

• Designated a Low Dose Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology.

• Accredited through the American College of Radiology for mammography and advanced breast imaging services.

• Recognized among the best hospitals in Centre County Favorites.

Penn Highlands Tyrone

• Earned certification by the American College of Radiology.

• Recognized among the best hospitals in Centre County Favorites.

Looking to the Future

Penn Highlands Healthcare is strengthening healthcare throughout central Pennsylvania and remains focused on expanding access to care, bolstering its medical staff and investing in services and technologies that meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

“Every investment we make — whether in people, technology, services or facilities — is ultimately about improving the care and experience of our patients,” said Halstead. “We are proud of what we accomplished this past year and look forward to building on that momentum.”