heart failure program and increased visits topped achievements in 2007 for

the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County.

VNA’s plans for 2008 include the opening of a second inpatient hospice and

numbers tell the story.

In the fiscal year from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, the hospital

reported 3,007 admissions and 18,022 emergency room visits. There were 326

births, 2,732 surgeries and 8,262 ambulance trips.

out during 2007 at the Oil City Presbyterian Home.

The home, located at 10 Vo-Tech Drive, is a 120-bed skilled nursing

facility and is one of five facilities owned and operated by Presbyterian

Homes in the Presbytery of Lake Erie. Martha Hoover is the facility

The Caring Place is a 100-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center

located at 103 N. 13th St., Franklin. There also is an integral, 32-bed

As health care costs continue to rise, companies are looking for ways to

help both their business and their employees better understand health care

and better manage costs, according to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Child Development Centers, an educationally based childcare agency,

continued to expand and provide more families with high-quality service in

West Park Rehab, under the direction of Edward St.Clair, DPT, has entered

its eighth year of business in Franklin.

For the past two years, the practice has operated out of two locations —

at the original location in the Franklin YMCA and at 571 Pone Lane —

providing services for physical rehabilitation, pediatrics, aquatics,

physical therapist Karee Heffernan, offers a wide range of services.

The experienced staff assisting Karee includes Jim Womer and Katie Micco,

physical therapist assistants; and Deb Lepley, patient services

Transitional Care Unit/Rehabilitation Center — the centerpiece of the

hospital’s plans for 2008.

Highlighting UPMC Northwest’s achievements in 2007 were advancements in

eighth year of serving the community as a complete alternative health care

agency, will soon offer a new service to the community — telehealth

HeartCenter at Butler Memorial Hospital and 2007 was no exception.

In November, the HeartCenter at BMH added a option to treat vascular

disease by performing an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. BMH joins the

ranks of a very few hospitals outside big tertiary centers that can offer

enthusiasm, focusing its energy and resources on excellence in patient

care.

Over the last year, the hospital made advancements in heart care,

achievements have made the past year noteworthy for Grove City Medical

organizations that measure the performance of hospitals. The two most

recent of these awards are for value to the community and for the

available? Collaborate with a local university and create a customized

degree program to help fill the vacancies.

This is exactly what UPMC Northwest, Clarion University-Venango Campus and

Mercer County-based UPMC Horizon have done with their innovative,

associate’s degree Respiratory Care Program, which is in its second year of

of 17,582 patient contacts or transports.

That reflected a 6 percent increase over 2006 and includes emergency and

non-emergency stretcher transports and wheelchair accessible transportation

may feel they have discovered the definition of “home away from home.”

The country setting contributes to the charm. Windsor House at Snyder

Memorial Health Care Center is located on the edge of the Allegheny

701 N. Perry St., Titusville, will celebrate its 56th year of operation in

2008.

Emerson Place is owned and operated by Presbyterian Homes in the