Hospitals embrace mergers as path to survival

Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg.

Butler Memorial Hospital.

Trustees and officials with Excela Health, including Excela Health trustee Alfred Reitano (center, in blue suit), participate in the groundbreaking Oct. 21 for Excela Square at Connellsville.

Excela Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox (center) participates in the Oct. 21 groundbreaking of Excela Square at Connellsville.

Connellsville Councilman Tom Karpiak speaks Oct. 21 to a gathering of trustees and officials in Connellsville during the groundbreaking for Excela Square at Connellsville. The 18,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed in fall 2023.

Excela Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox speaks to a gathering of trustees and officials Oct. 21 in Connellsville during the groundbreaking for Excela Square at Connellsville.

Excela Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox, standing next to Ann Albanesi (far left) of the Westmoreland Hospital Foundation, participates in the Oct. 21 groundbreaking of Excela Square at Connellsville.

Construction of Excela Square at Connellsville is seen in its early phases Oct. 21.

Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes, standing next to Connellsville Councilman Tom Karpiak (far right), participates in a groundbreaking with other officials for the Excela Square at Connellsville outpatient and ambulatory care center Oct. 21. The facility is under construction and is expected to be completed in fall 2023.

John Driscoll, a former senior judge and district attorney, as seen in 2015. Driscoll served on Excela Health’s board.

Ge Bai, an accounting professor at Johns Hopkins University, specializes in health care pricing, policy and management.

Excela Health CEO John Sphon.