About Altoona Regional
Altoona Hospital offers the only hyperbaric oxygen chambers between Pittsburgh and Hershey. The chamber proved so successful and the patient need so great that a second chamber was installed in mid-2000. The chamber dramatically increases the amount of oxygen to the body's tissues. It is used primarily to promote the healing of wounds that won't heal – more... because of impaired circulation. The high use reflects the area's high incidence of diabetes and subsequent circulation problems that lead to problem wounds.
For patients who are claustrophobic (can't tolerate enclosed spaces), the thought of undergoing a traditional magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) incites extreme fear because of the closed tunnel they must lie within. While a closed MRI is the more powerful, preferred system, the open MRI provides a viable alternative to no MRI being performed. Young or obese patients are also candidates for open MRI. More than 900 open MRI diagnostic imaging procedures were performed in the last nine months of 1999, with 1,500 projected in 2000.
In 1999, Altoona Hospital initiates steps necessary to seek designation as a Level II Trauma Service in Blair County. The area surrounding the I-99 growth corridor and across I-80 from Centre to Elk counties is the most underserved area for trauma services in Pennsylvania. Such a service would increase access to advanced medical treatment in the "golden hour" after a catastrophic injury with less being spent in transportation.
R. Scott Magley, M.D. joined us as a senior vice-president of Emergency Services. Dr. Magley immediately commenced training existing staff, hiring additional staff, and overseeing engineering and architectural design work for a two-story addition to the hospital. Recruitment of 12 board-certified physicians, medical and surgical, is under way.
This expansion of Emergency Services into Trauma Services has drawn the most fire from critics, especially during the labor action. Many people don't understand how the hospital could afford such an expansion on one hand, but said it couldn't afford higher wage increases and maintain existing pharmacy benefits. What is different is the source of funding. New services or capital improvements such as Emergency Services renovations are paid using money from board-designated assets specifically earmarked for capital replacement and new projects. Wages, salaries, and benefits, which account for more than 50 percent of hospital expenses, are paid from operating revenues that are in decline.
Hospital reserves provide the fiscal muscle to develop new services, which in turn increase patient visits and ultimately increase operating revenues. Continued development of innovative, necessary services will increase the hospital's strength in a highly competitive market.
In the year ahead, we will continue to seek measures to control expenses, without sacrificing quality. At the same time, we will continue our efforts for BBA relief. I have great confidence in our employees, directors, medical staff, and our community-based board of trustees. With the support of all these stakeholders, we will remain the hospital of choice for local residents. And this will be so because Altoona Hospital will continue to provide high-quality and cost-effective healthcare to the people of our community. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
Altoona Regional Employer Reviews
Altoona Regional
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse (Current Employee), Tower 11 – March 6, 2012
Working at Altoona Regional
