UPMC Magee-Womens Services and Expertise Available at UPMC Altoona

ALTOONA, Pa. – UPMC Altoona today announced the renaming of its women’s health services to UPMC Magee-Womens at UPMC Altoona, forming a closer alignment with the specialists and leadership of Pittsburgh-based UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, reflecting the rapid evolution and advancement of the Altoona region’s busiest obstetric department and most robust women’s health care offerings.

UPMC Magee is a nationally renowned premier destination for women’s health care and now will have an increased presence on the UPMC Altoona campus, further enhancing the delivery of UPMC’s world-class care in the local region, ensuring specialized services remain easily accessible and close to home while providing women with more choices for their routine OB/GYN care.

Although UPMC Altoona previously shared the UPMC Magee name for a select number of services, including breast health and cancer, the branding now encompasses the full breadth of women’s health and newborn services.

“We have expanded our women’s health offerings each year to be able to provide localized specialty care to patients in our region,” said Stacey-Ann Okoth, vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer at UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford. “Removing the travel barrier and bringing this high-level quality care right to the Altoona area is something we’re extremely proud of. Our service offerings ensure we can care for all who need it, where they need it, and stay with our patients throughout their lives for their women’s health needs.”

Since Altoona Regional Health System became UPMC Altoona more than seven years ago, the women’s health service line has grown in both the number of services offered and the level of care provided on-site for patients, and virtually—by utilizing telemedicine—to accommodate the health care needs of the region’s women. 

UPMC Altoona recently implemented a labor and delivery hospitalist care model which provides comprehensive, around-the-clock coverage by hospital laborists. As a result of UPMC’s investment in Altoona women and their families, the hospital has increased the number of newborn deliveries by 40% in just two years.

In addition to the on-site services added, UPMC Magee-Womens at UPMC Altoona continues to take pride in the telemedicine services provided for both women and newborns. UPMC Altoona newborns who require a stay in the Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) receive care from an in-person neonatology nurse practitioner and telemedicine care from UPMC Magee neonatologists.

Including labor, delivery and postpartum care, UPMC Altoona’s impressive spread of subspecialty on-site women’s health services offers:

“Delivering world-class subspecialty care close to home in all of the communities we serve is a big part of UPMC’s overall mission,” said Robert Edwards, M.D., chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology & reproductive sciences of the UPMC Magee Women’s Health Service Line. “The importance of keeping women comfortable and in their community when receiving medical treatment—whether it is for a high-risk pregnancy or cancer appointments—cannot be overstated. This strong collaboration between our hospitals means trusted local doctors can quickly consult with UPMC Magee subspecialists and easily access research and diagnostic treatment resources. This allows local doctors to provide more specialty care close to home in partnership with world-class specialists.”