Expansion of women & children’s services at Mount Nittany Medical Center resumes

One of the many examples of Mount Nittany Health’s commitment to provide exceptional care is the Joseph V. and Suzanne P. Paterno Women and Children’s Unit, the largest unit in the region, with dedicated medical and nursing teams, serving women's healthcare, pediatric patients and welcoming more than 1,300 newborns every year. 

Given the importance of this vital community resource for women, children and families, the unit is undergoing a significant expansion. While the project had begun, but then had to be paused last year due to COVID-19, the health system is pleased to announce that the project has resumed and the new unit is expected to open in the spring of 2022. 

“This expansion is another illustration of our continued investment in the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Kathleen Rhine, president and CEO, Mount Nittany Health. “Ensuring access to quality healthcare has always been a priority for us, and we are honored to provide a space that will further enhance care for so many of our neighbors.”

“This space is a celebration of new life and enhanced care for our community’s women and children,” shared Sue Paterno. “I’m proud to be part of one of the many reasons Mount Nittany Health continues to be the best.”

Every detail of the project for the labor and delivery area will be designed with families in mind, knowing that some of those rooms are the first places where new lives take their first breath and where families create their first memories together. The expansion for this area will include new labor and delivery rooms, post-partum rooms, nursery, family support space, more efficient clinical work areas and a new operating room - with personalized features, advanced technology, and a focus on safety that are the hallmarks of care at Mount Nittany Health.

New spaces will also be created for women's healthcare to ensure comfort, care and privacy during healing, as well as, a new space for pediatric patients with their special needs in mind, including more privacy and family support places for the growing number of women and families that trust Mount Nittany Health with their care.

“These updates will provide a beautiful and serene setting for our patients, and a modern, innovative clinical space for our healthcare providers,” shares Jess Lewis, manager, women & children's services department, Mount Nittany Medical Center. “The expansion will provide tremendous benefit for our community and we’re so excited to be moving forward with these plans.”

To date, more than $666,000 has been raised for Mount Nittany Health Foundation’s Women and Children's Future Renovation fund, thanks to gifts from the following major donors: Joan Brower, William and Carolyn First, Suzanne Paterno, Charles and Annette Rohrbeck, the Mount Nittany Medical Center Charity Ball and the medical staff of Mount Nittany Medical Center.

To learn more about the ways Mount Nittany Health cares for the community, please visit mountnittany.org.