Medical mall to open in Rostraver Township
Submitted photo
A workman installs the letters on the sign for the newly renamed Monongahela Valley Hospital HealthPlex.
Submitted photo
The completed sign for the new Monongahela Valley Hospital HealthPlex is shown along Route 51 in Belle Vernon.
One local hospital is doing what it can to alleviate the stress of multiple appointments and trips to medical facilities with a new medical mall.
Monongahela Valley Hospital is in the process of renovations and new construction in a Rostraver Township plaza along Route 51.
Known as the HealthPlex, the multi-building facility will make a patient’s trip more efficient and convenient, while they’re getting quality service, according to MVH CEO Lou Panza.
“About 13 years ago, MVH believed in trying to combine outpatient care in a medical mall concept. That way patients would have the convenience of seeing their physician and have testing or imaging done in the same day,” Panza said.
Panza used women’s health care program as an example. If a patient sees their OBGYN and they recommend an ultrasound, the patient would be able to walk down the hallway and do it in the same day, rather than take another day off to schedule an appointment.
“And now, everyone is talking about medical malls being the new thing,” he added. “With all of the healthcare and technology changes, we want to be at the forefront.”
“Healthcare is changing, especially because of technology,” Panza said. “The world is changing because of the superb technology available in healthcare, and coming up with very efficient, convenient outpatient locations under one roof is a goal that my predecessor started, and we’ve continued forward by doing that in the most efficient way possible.”
The building was purchased about a year ago, and in that time, a number of “carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other skilled tradesmen have been working diligently inside the building to expand and construct new physician offices,” according to a press release from MVH.
They’re currently in the end stages of renovating the entire fourth floor to make room for The Orthopedic Group. They’ll have X-ray capabilities, an exam room and assorted medical equipment under one roof, Panza said.
“The key is to have multiple specialists in orthopedics — joint surgeons, pain management rehabilitation doctors, a spine surgeon — all under one roof,” he added.
Panza provided another example, a patient having knee pain that actually might be linked to back troubles. Instead of a physician saying they’re the wrong doctor for the job and having the patient reschedule an appointment, the patient can see the appropriate physician in the same day, under the same roof.
“You’re already in the suite and avoiding another trip to the office,” he said.
Right across from the main facility sits Rostraver Imaging which recently acquired a 32-slice CT scanner and a 1.5 tesla MRI machine, in addition to their open MRIs. Panza said patients can literally go across the road to have an MRI or CT scan.
The first floor of the facility, once vacated by The Orthopedic Group, will be home to three physician offices that are moving from their current North Belle Vernon location — Chito M. Crudo, Hiram Gonzalez and Arshad Bachelani.
In addition to imaging facilities and physician offices, the HealthPlex is also home to one of the largest occupation therapy pools in the state and a cardiac rehabilitation facility.
“It’s the same equipment there in the fitness floor that you would have in rehab, so you’re not intimidated. You’re learning in the controlled environment of the fitness club,” Panza said, adding that they stress the label of a “center of fitness and health” rather than a gym, which can come in handy post surgery. “If you’re feeling nervous or apprehensive, the nurses will help.
Overall, the new medical mall will enable MVH to house general surgeons, women’s care options, neurosurgery, orthopedic care, occupational health, primary care, cardiac rehabilitation, physical rehab, output therapy, speech therapy, imaging and blood draw services.
“By doing it under one roof — that’s what’s driving quality care. Like we say, MVH is close to you, but far from ordinary,” Panza said.