ACMH Hospital

The Armstrong Center for Medicine & Health leadership and its board of directors, which operate ACMH Hospital, signed an agreement to affiliate with Pennsylvania Mountains Care Network.

A Wednesday, March 6, news release from ACMH said the agency recently completed a monthslong exploration of affiliation opportunities with the Mountains Care Network.

Formed in 2015, the network oversees its rural hospital affiliates with an integrated governance and executive management team that represents the common interests of the various communities served by its “well-established hospitals.”

As part of the agreement, ACMH will retain its local identity and continue to operate as a separately licensed community hospital. The hospital will retain its own employees, medical staff and foundation, and it will continue to focus on its mission of improving the health of patients through clinical care and the compassionate management of illness and disability.

In October, the board endorsed and authorized the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent to explore affiliation opportunities with the Mountains Care Network — which currently includes Indiana Regional Medical Center and Punxsutawney Area Hospital.

Tim Lehner, marketing supervisor for ACMH, said the hospital’s news release is all the information presently available. He said the affiliation is expected to be formally in place in July.

The 130-bed hospital is in Kittanning and ACMH has numerous offices, practices and facilities across the region.