Rendering of AHN-McCandless Neighborhood Hospital, McCandless, PA

MCCANDLESS, PA—Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health marked the raising of the final steel beam as part of the construction of a new neighborhood hospital being built in McCandless, PA. Located at the corner of Duncan Avenue and McKnight Road in the McCandless Crossing Shopping Center, AHN McCandless—Neighborhood Hospital is expected to start seeing patients later this year.

The four-story, nearly 50,000-square-foot facility is one of four neighborhood hospitals AHN is building across western Pennsylvania as part of its $1 billion investment to expand access to convenient, close-to-home health care services. Other locations for the small-format hospitals include Brentwood, Harmar, and Hempfield.

AHN is partnering with Texas-based Emerus, the nation's leading developer and operator of neighborhood hospitals, to build and manage the new facilities. Pittsburgh-based Rycon Construction is leading the construction of the hospitals.

Unlike standalone emergency departments or urgent care centers, AHN McCandless will be a fully licensed hospital that is open 24/7. In addition to an emergency department and a 10-bed inpatient unit, AHN McCandless will provide diagnostic imaging, including CT and X-ray, as well as laboratory and other complementary medical services. It will be staffed by board-certified physicians, nurses, and other experienced health care professionals, all of whom are aligned around a high-quality care model.

AHN McCandless also will be a home to AHN's women's health services, including its infertility program. Area women and couples will have on-site access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other therapies in reproductive medicine.

Among numerous patient-friendly design elements, AHN McCandless will feature nursing stations uniquely configured to maximize sightlines and accessibility, allowing staff to easily monitor exam rooms and minimize response times. CT and X-ray procedure rooms will accommodate patients of any age, with adjacent observation rooms that keep families together during procedures. An onsite lab will expedite testing processes so patients don't have to wait long for results.

AHN McCandless will be closely integrated with the network's other key facilities in the North Hills, including the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, Pediatric Orthopaedic Institute, and the AHN McCandless medical office building just up McKnight Road. When more comprehensive care is needed, the hospital will provide a smooth transition to full-service AHN facilities and other providers.