State waiver helps AHN keep construction on track for new hospitals in Pine, Harmar

The state’s waiver for construction of health care facilities during the mandated shutdown has allowed Allegheny Health Network to stay on track with plans to open a new 160-bed hospital in Pine Township, as well as a “small format” hospital in Harmar, officials announced Monday.

Three other AHN hospitals that are part of the health care network’s $1 billion expansion plans are already up and running.

AHN opened a mini-hospital in McCandless in December. AHN Brentwood opened in March and AHN Hempfield was completed in January.

“Despite the many unexpected challenges brought on by the covid-19 pandemic, the exception granted for construction of health care facilities enabled us to continue to make progress with the building of this beautiful, state-of-the-art facility, and we are excited about opening its doors next year,” said Dr. Allan Klapper, president of AHN Wexford Hospital.

The 345,000-square-foot building is being built next to AHN’s Health & Wellness Pavilion along Perry Highway. It is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2021.

The new hospital will feature a full range of medical services, including comprehensive women and infant care: advanced cardiac, neurosurgical, orthopaedic and cancer treatment; 24-hour emergency department and short-stay observation unit with pediatric rooms; an adult intensive-care unit; and operating rooms equipped with minimally invasive robotic surgical capabilities.

Since installing the building’s final steel beam in October, progress has been made on the hospital’s main tower, parking garage and an on-site power plant fueled by natural gas that will provide electricity, heating and cooling.

AHN officials say the new hospital in Pine is the single-largest investment in its history. The facility is expected to employ about 750 health care professionals.

The 23,000-square-foot neighborhood hospital under construction at Freeport and Guys Run road in Harmar Township is slated to open in September, according to AHN spokeswoman Candace Herrington.

The facility will be a 24-hour emergency care hospital offering medical services such as lab tests, imaging services and some inpatient care.

Allegheny Health Network and its parent company, Highmark Health, announced plans in 2018 to build the new hospital in Pine along with four “small format” neighborhood hospitals to help expand the availability of medical treatment in the region.