UPMC is dedicated to advancing whole-person health in Pennsylvania’s rural communities by implementing innovative care models, forging strategic collaborations, and engaging civic stakeholders to support policy solutions that expand access, strengthen the health care workforce, and promote sustainable funding for rural health initiatives.
Learn more about our commitment to rural health.
According to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 26% of Pennsylvanians live in rural areas making it difficult to access their health care needs.
These challenges include:
By collaborating with community organizations and government partners, UPMC can work to expand access to whole-person care, support families’ well-being, and strengthen the rural health workforce.
Additionally, UPMC rural health priorities are grounded in insights from our annual Community Health Needs Assessment. These assessments consistently highlight critical challenges—including higher rates of food insecurity, limited access to transportation, and increasing behavioral health needs—which continue to shape how we focus our efforts and invest in meaningful, community-driven solutions.
In addition to providing comprehensive health care services across Pennsylvania, UPMC serves regions in Western Maryland and New York, including hospitals located in rural communities as identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
UPMC cares for a large share of high-need patients, bringing resources within reach to:
UPMC Jameson is approaching its 10th anniversary as part of UPMC. This milestone marks a decade of strengthened care, expanded services, and meaningful investment in the rural communities of Lawrence and Mercer counties.
Since joining UPMC in 2016, the hospital has evolved into a regional hub for advanced care. It offers leading services such as:
This integration brought world‑class clinical innovations to a rural region, including:
UPMC Jameson has also deepened its role as an educator. It supports local pathways into health care careers through its School of Nursing and School of Radiography. These efforts help to sustain the region’s clinical workforce.
As it nears a decade within UPMC, UPMC Jameson continues to demonstrate how sustained investment, specialty expansion, and academic and medical expertise can elevate care close to home for rural communities.
June 1, 2025, marked a significant milestone for UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene: one year since officially joining UPMC.
Under UPMC’s leadership, UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene have:
The integration has brought world‑class services closer to home for patients across Washington and Greene counties.
New specialty capabilities — including spine surgery, neurosurgery, expanded pediatric emergency care, and broader orthopaedic services — have significantly strengthened the region’s care continuum. These additions, along with continued investments in women’s health and other specialties, underscore a shared commitment to elevating care for the rural communities UPMC serves.
The launch of UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care in 2025 expanded access to convenient, high‑quality care. We have more than 80 locations statewide, including 15 serving rural counties.
This growth reduces barriers to essential services. It ensures that patients in underserved areas can receive timely, reliable care close to home.
UPMC’s Rural Family Medicine Residency trains physicians for full-spectrum rural care at various sites, including:
The residency prepares doctors to lead community health initiatives such as food security projects while emphasizing relationship-based care.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Horizon-Shenango Valley recently added a second linear accelerator. This addition gives residents of Lawrence and Mercer counties access to the most sophisticated radiation oncology treatment.
The $9.6 million project included the construction of a vault for the new, state-of-the art linac. The device delivers high-energy, external beam radiation treatments that precisely target cancer tumors. It can treat lung, breast, and prostate cancers, among others.
UPMC has expanded the presence of UPMC Magee‑Womens at UPMC Washington. This expansion brings nationally recognized women’s health care closer to families in Washington County and surrounding communities.
The expansion strengthens UPMC Washington as a regional hub for specialty care. It also reinforces UPMC’s commitment to meeting local women’s health needs with comprehensive, high‑quality services.
UPMC extends community care through the Mobile Health Center, a high‑tech clinic on wheels.
Primarily serving Tioga and Potter counties, the unit delivers essential health services directly to communities in north central Pennsylvania. Services include preventive screenings, vaccinations, and health education.
The clinic helps residents overcome transportation barriers and improves access to essential care.
UPMC Altoona opened a new behavioral health pod within its emergency department. The new pod creates a dedicated, safe, and therapeutic space for patients experiencing mental health or substance‑use crises.
This specialized unit is designed to reduce overstimulation, enhance privacy, and accelerate access to behavioral health expertise. It marks a significant step forward in meeting the growing mental health needs of Blair County and surrounding communities.
UPMC Jameson is advancing local behavioral health services for the Lawrence and Mercer County regions by opening a new behavioral health inpatient unit. Construction began in June and is planned to open in 2026. Both UPMC Jameson and UPMC Horizon offer services locally in partnership with experts at UPMC Western Behavioral Health.
A ribbon‑cutting and Chamber Mixer was held on Feb. 19 to celebrate the launch of new primary and specialty care services, marking an important step in expanding access to UPMC’s comprehensive care for the community in Adams County.
UPMC has harnessed innovative technology solutions that bring expert care close to home. These efforts have helped to transform rural health delivery.
Telehealth consultations and digital resource integration directly support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' goals of leveraging technology to improve rural care delivery.
UPMC also continues to deploy cutting-edge technology across rural communities. These efforts cut barriers to care and ensure world-class services are accessible everywhere.
UPMC Enterprises, the venture capital arm of UPMC, also drives health care transformation. It invests in scalable innovations in digital health, data analytics, and technology.
These investments support telehealth, remote monitoring, and other digital solutions that are deployable across diverse settings. They strengthen models of care beyond Pittsburgh, and in some cases, into rural areas.
UPMC is investing in building a sustainable rural health workforce through innovative education and career pipeline programs. Examples include:
The EMS Internship Program is a partnership with Pennsylvania College of Technology. It has produced a strong talent pipeline; 40% of UPMC’s EMS staff are alumni.
These programs expand health care career opportunities statewide. They offer personalized support for job seekers and connect rural candidates to apprenticeships and health care careers.
These programs have generated over 2,000 referrals through 200-plus community organizations. Freedom House has graduated more than 200 participants since 2021. Half of its alumni are employed within 90 days of graduation, and 60% are employed within 180 days.
Nursing education remains a cornerstone at the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing in New Castle. The school has graduated more than 2,493 nurses over its 100-year history. It anticipates 49 graduates in 2025, with enrollment continuing to grow.
In 2025, the UPMC Mercy School of Nursing opened at UPMC Altoona. The new school offers a fast-track, affordable pathway for aspiring nurses in the region. The 16-month diploma program combines hands-on clinical experience with academic coursework. It will prepare students to become registered nurses and pursue advanced degrees.
The UPMC in Central Pa. Scholars Program is a scholarship and career development initiative. It's designed to support students interested in health care careers within Central Pennsylvania.
UPMC and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation sponsor the program. The program aims to cultivate local talent, address workforce shortages, and ensure high-quality care in the region by encouraging scholars to remain and work in central Pennsylvania after graduation.
Participants benefit from exposure to clinical environments, professional development workshops, and guidance from experienced health care professionals. The program prepares them for successful careers in the medical field.
