UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster to close next year

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UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster, formerly known as Lancaster Regional Medical Center, plans to transition services to UPMC Pinnacle Lititz by March 2019, UPMC Pinnacle said in a press release.

UPMC Pinnacle acquired the two Lancaster County hospitals in 2017 as part of a series of deals that brought Pittsburgh-based UPMC to Central Pennsylvania.

The move will allow UPMC Pinnacle’s inpatient programs in Lancaster County to operate from a newer facility, David Simons, president of UPMC Pinnacle Lititz’s medical staff, said in the press release. UPMC Pinnacle Lititz is in Warwick Township.

“Moving inpatient services from UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster to UPMC Pinnacle Lititz will combine the strengths of the outstanding patient care teams from both hospitals, unifying employees and expanding UPMC’s high quality of inpatient care and efficient operations in the most modern facility,” said Simons. “UPMC Pinnacle Lititz is an updated facility well-equipped to handle additional services while offering the opportunity for future expansion and growth.”

Services offered at UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster, like surgical oncology and musculoskeletal tumor services, will move to Lititz. UPMC Pinnacle said in the release that it will be working with local inpatient and outpatient providers in Lancaster city to help address the needs of UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster patients.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health also operates a hospital in the city.

UPMC will continue to operate outpatient practices in the city, including the UPMC Outpatient Center on 250 College Ave.

The closure of UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster will leave employees without work but the system says it will continue to work with them and with other local hospitals to find available positions. UPMC Pinnacle will also attempt to retain as many employees as it can in positions in other UPMC Pinnacle hospitals.

There are current no plans for the Lancaster facility but the system has stated it is looking at options that would benefit Lancaster city.

“We are committed to making the process as seamless as possible for all as we take the right steps toward ensuring the future of high-quality care for the diverse communities of Lancaster County,” UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster Board President Gary Clouser said in a statement.