Mount Nittany Plans Future Expansion and Renovation Projects

Mount Nittany Medical Center recently announced further expansion and renovation projects to meet the growing healthcare needs of the communities it serves.

Toward that goal, President and CEO Steve Brown, FACHE, and Chief Financial Officer Rich Wisniewski, CPA, asked the Centre County commissioners to adopt the resolution authorizing the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and execute the Certificate of Approval for the Medical Center on behalf of the Centre County Hospital Authority at last week’s meeting.

The sale of the Series 2012 Bonds will support planned construction and expansion projects at the Medical Center, including the expansion of the surgical services unit by 60,000 square feet, adding five new operating rooms, expanded post surgical care area, additional pre-surgery care areas, storage and a central sterile supply space.

In 2011, Mount Nittany Medical Center added da Vinci robotic technology to its growing surgical capabilities. Surgical cases at the Medical Center grew by 14% last fiscal year and grew at the Surgical Center by more than 10 percent.

In addition, Mount Nittany Medical Center is expanding its pain management services and transitioning these services to the new facility at the intersection of Old Gatesburg Road and Blue Course Drive. Mount Nittany Medical Center will offer walk-in laboratory and radiology services at this location to improve convenience and access to these services.

The projects are estimated to cost $36 million plus costs for equipment. Bonds will also be issued to refinance the 2009 bonds which will generate $4.6 million in savings on those bonds. The total bonds to be issued will be approximately $112 million. Construction for the projects will commence this fall.

Mount Nittany Health recently added a three-story patient tower of private patient rooms and a new main entrance to the Medical Center.

The first phase of the new emergency department is complete, with the second phase completed in spring of 2013. The Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion will open in the fall of 2012 on the Medical Center campus and the Sieg Neuroscience Center will open on Old Gatesburg Road in the fall as well.

The health system has grown its physician practice to more than 65 physicians with locations in Bellefonte, State College, North Atherton Street, Penns Valley, Mifflin County, and Boalsburg.