DuBOIS — Monongahela Valley Hospital officially joined Penn Highlands Healthcare, effective Oct. 1, following recent regulatory reviews and approvals.

Now Penn Highlands Mon Valley, this 200-bed non-profit community hospital becomes the seventh hospital in the Penn Highlands Healthcare system and the first in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“We are excited to expand our services into Southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Steven M. Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer of Penn Highlands Healthcare. “Monongahela Valley Hospital has a reputation for providing high-quality health care. This partnership will enable the people in the region to continue receiving the care they depend on and provide them with access to more physicians in additional specialties through Penn Highlands Healthcare.”

After rigorous due diligence, research and discussion, the boards of directors of both Penn Highlands Healthcare and Monongahela Valley Hospital signed a Definitive Agreement in June that paved the way for the regulatory review and approval and ultimately this integration.

According to Robert Ordiway, Chairman of the Penn Highlands Healthcare Board, the affiliation with Monongahela Valley Hospital will expand the geographic footprint of Penn Highlands Healthcare while strengthening the health system’s ability to recruit providers and further grow many of its specialty services.