Ohio Valley General Hospital
During the 1900s, McKees Rocks General Hospital was established in Norwood, Stowe Township by Dr. S.M. Black. In 1906, the hospital was chartered as a nonprofit, non-sectarian institution and changed its name to Ohio Valley General Hospital. With thirty beds, the hospital was filled to capacity. A new wing was added in 1909, along with bassinets and service facilities. In 1930, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth were asked to run the hospital, although the institution remained non-sectarian. At that time, the hospital’s bed capacity was sixty; however, as many as 83 patients were crowded inside. A new hospital was needed.
Mrs. Edward B. Heckel, in honor of her husband, a skilled physician in the community; made acreage available to the hospital for a nominal price. The property was only two miles from the original site. In December 1947, the cornerstone was laid and the new building opened in the spring of 1949.
The School of Nursing building was constructed in 1956 and provided facilities for 65 students. The School was accredited by the National League for Nursing and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nurse Examiners in 1959. Since 1963, the hospital has also operated a School of Radiologic Technology.
Expansion plans for the Hospital began in 1968. The School of Nursing was remodeled. The largest part of the expansion plan was a three story addition to the Hospital. It enlarged the Emergency and Outpatient facilities, and provided new offices for many departments and physicians, in addition to the new Laboratory and Radiology facilities.
Renovation of the nursing units has been ongoing and the Medical Office Building was opened in May, 1988. Renovations continue in many areas of the hospital to upgrade the facility and technology. The Hospital has expanded to the surrounding community with satellite facilities in Robinson and Moon Townships. Ohio Valley current capacity is 116 beds, which include 64 medical/surgical beds, 8 critical care beds, 18 intermediate care beds, 16 acute rehabilitation beds and 10 OB/Gyn beds. There are also 32 outpatient surgery beds and 10 bassinets.
Recent expansion includes the Residence at Willow Lane located directly across from the hospital entrance. This contemporary assisted living community offers seniors the comforts of home with the activity and security of a small caring community. Growth in serving this segment of our community continues with the construction of Willow Heights, an independent living facility also located on Heckel Road.
2007 saw the recent addition of the state of the art surgical suite which opened in February. A new obstetrical/gynecological unit with updated technology opened in March of that same year. Construction of another medical office building began on July 2, 2007.
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