County Commissioners Welcome Northwell Health to Pike

At the State of the County Dinner, on November 17, 2022, organized by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Pike County Economic Development Authority, and Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, the Pike County Commissioners announced that Northwell Health has verbally committed to open urgent care locations in the County.

The expansion of medical services has been a priority for the Board of Commissioners for the past eight years. In that time, they have met with numerous medical providers to discuss the healthcare climate of the county.

Out of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Pike is the only county that does not have a hospital or urgent care facility located within its boundaries. This issue significantly limits residents’ and visitors’ access to treatment services, resulting in required travel to neighboring counties to receive treatment. In cases of emergencies, this can be detrimental. The lack of facilities also creates reliance on limited ambulance assets, and the possibility of undiagnosed and/or untreated conditions.

Commissioner Osterberg stated, “access to hospital and urgent care facilities is something we lack in the county. Through this partnership with Northwell Health, we will be able to bridge the gap. We are excited about this opportunity.”

The expansion of medical services will not only greatly improve the health of the community; it will also create employment opportunities by keeping services in-county, which will help to bolster the local economy.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is the largest private employer in New York state, with 21 hospitals and more than 850 ambulatory facilities with a service area of 12 million individuals.

Northwell Health approached the Commissioners three years ago to discuss the healthcare landscape of the county and evaluate the possibility of bringing more significant healthcare services to Pike County.

This dialog came about after an executive at the company, vacationing in Pike County at Lake Wallenpaupack, experienced a medical emergency. This individual experienced first-hand the struggle Pike residents face locating treatment and sought to rectify it.

Following a market analysis, Northwell Health identified two promising locations for facilities; the Weiss Market complex located on Route 739 in Dingmans Ferry, as well as somewhere along the Route 507 corridor in Palmyra Township. 

Commissioner Waldron said, “Northwell is a great company with a proven track record of success. Opening these locations will significantly improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”

Commissioner Schmalzle added that he sees this as the first step in the future expansion of medical services in the County. He said, “the goal is to ultimately add a small hospital in the center of the county where a majority of the population resides. We will continue to work with providers to build collaborative relationships to realize this goal.”

Updates on this partnership will be provided as details emerge.

Listen to Commissioner Osterberg's interview with Kat Bolus, WVIA News.

Photo ID: Pike County Commissioner Tony Waldron; Dr. Mark Schiffer, Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Northwell Health; and Pike County Commissioners Matthew Osterberg and Ronald Schmalzle.