Blue Mountain Health System Joins St. Luke’s University Health Network (Sponsored)

With final approval of federal and state regulatory bodies received Dec. 21, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Blue Mountain Health System have officially completed their previously announced merger.

Blue Mountain’s two Carbon County hospitals and other entities have united with Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke’s, effective Dec. 31, to enhance the health care and quality of life of Carbon County residents.

With the completion of the merger, SLUHN now consists of nine hospitals and nearly 300 outpatient sites serving 10 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and treating more Greater Lehigh Valley patients than any other health care network.

“The addition of the Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton campuses and other Blue Mountain entities positions our Network to continue as the greater Lehigh Valley’s leading provider of the highest quality care at the lowest cost,” said St. Luke’s University Health Network President and CEO Rick Anderson. “Together, we will work closely with our newest partner to expand access to quality health care services for the citizens of Carbon County.”

Terry Purcell has been appointed President of the former Blue Mountain hospitals, which have been renamed St. Luke’s Palmerton Campus and St. Luke’s Gnaden Huetten Campus (in Lehighton). He is replacing Andrew E. Harris, who retired from his position as President and CEO of Blue Mountain Health System effective Dec. 31.

“I would like to personally thank Drew for his outstanding leadership and service at Blue Mountain Health System over the years, and also for playing a critical leadership role in the Blue Mountain/St. Luke’s merger,” Anderson said.

Purcell has been employed by Blue Mountain Health System for more than two decades, and for the past year he has served as the Senior Vice President of Operations. He is a graduate of Mahanoy Area High School in Schuylkill County and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Bloomsburg University and an MBA from Wilkes University.

“With his deep ties to the region, we know Terry will serve both St. Luke’s and Carbon and the surrounding counties well,” Anderson said.

The St. Luke’s/Blue Mountain merger was unanimously approved in September by the Boards of Trustees of both organizations.

Anderson said Carbon County and surrounding area residents can expect St. Luke’s to replicate the success and positive impact it has achieved at its other hospital campuses and outpatient centers.

“Over the years, St. Luke’s has established an extremely successful record of working collaboratively and forming successful partnerships with hospitals that have joined our network–in Allentown, Quakertown and Coaldale, Pa., and in Phillipsburg, N.J.,” he said. “We have extended our nationally recognized quality programs to these locations, providing patients with cost-effective care and superior quality second to none as measured regionally and nationally.”

Note: This story was contributed by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Its publication is part of a news partnership between Saucon Source and SLUHN.