Highlands Hospital turns focus to whole body care in 2017
Through partnerships and expansion, Highlands Hospital, an independent, nonprofit hospital in Connellsville, is continuing their commitment to offer services addressing whole body care.
In the past year, and under the direction of John Andursky, now the acting chief executive officer of the hospital, with the full commitment from the board of trustees, the hospital is focusing on a functional community health model and expanding its services into both the community and the region.
Last year the hospital acquired the former Zachariah Connell Elementary School just blocks from the main hospital campus in hopes of expanding.
“Our approach is to make the former Zachariah Connell School be a Center for Health Impact and the hub of community health,” he said. “Some of our initiatives will focus on Women’s & Family Health & Wellness, Aging Well & Pain Management as well as becoming a health care destination point for Autism, Stress Management and Behavioral Health Services.”
The hospital is exploring opportunities with the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority and the city of Connellsville to partner on the remodeled Zachariah Connell School.
Officials are continuing to nurture community partnerships and continue to discuss a community kitchen effort with the Fayette County Cultural Trust that will tie into the community Farmer’s Market.
“Highlands is looking to continue cooperation with Walk Works and Wednesday Night Walks, plus they will be exploring additional involvement with the schools, churches, and local businesses, said Andursky.
The hospital is also working with both the Redevelopment Authority and the Fayette County Cultural Trust to create community spaces on the six acres around the former school with a raised bed community garden, additional sports play areas, revitalized tennis courts, walking trails, and a greenhouse.
“Of course, the key to these additions will be driven from the synergy created by the community development plan that is currently being updated by the Redevelopment Authority and the city of Connellsville,” said Andursky.
On another level, the Fayette County Cultural Trust is also working with the hospital to expand services in art and music therapies, dance, drumming, and a myriad of other arts-based initiatives that will provide enhanced opportunities for not only the community, but also for the students and families for the Highlands Hospital Regional Center for Autism School.
The hospital has already partnered with West Virginia University’s Heart & Vascular Institute.
“WVU’s presence at Highlands Hospital reinforces the hospital’s commitment of ensuring coordinated comprehensive care close to home,” Andursky said.
The next level of cooperation being explored involves sophisticated medical testing such as pharmacogenomics and hormone analytics, which Meier said are both cutting edge technologies that would differentiate Highlands from any other local hospitals.
“The recent affiliation with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda’s Clinical Breast Care Project has positioned Highlands Hospital for a possible inclusion in the upcoming Apollo lung cancer trials,” he said. “And the hospital’s newest partnership with the WVU reinforces the hospital’s commitment of ensuring coordinated comprehensive care close to home.
“Highlands Hospital is working hard to change the face of healthcare in the Laurel Highlands region through the highest level of technology combined with the highest level of whole person care,” Andursky added.