PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Inc. announced today the construction of a medical mall at 12311 Perry Highway in Wexford, Pa. When completed in 2014, the 174,000-square-foot facility, which will be an integral part of Highmark's growing integrated delivery system and will provide patients with accessible, high-quality health care in Pittsburgh's northern communities.
"Today's announcement is an important milestone in our efforts to transform the delivery of health care in Western Pennsylvania," said William Winkenwerder, M.D., Highmark's president and CEO. "With a focus on a better patient experience, the medical mall will merge traditional medical services with prevention."
The medical mall will serve as a place where all of a patient's health care needs can be delivered in one location. Services planned at the facility include medical and radiation oncology, basic and advanced imaging, physical and occupational therapy, a women's care center, a lab and pharmacy, primary and specialty care, pediatrics, as well as a drop-off child care center, a resource library, community rooms and a demonstration kitchen.
"A combination of marketplace forces and health care reform is forcing everyone in the health care system to change the way we do business," said Dr. Winkenwerder. "In line with these changes and our commitment to our members, we are building a new integrated health care system – a system that will provide more choice for consumers and preserve competition to help control health care costs."
Recognizing that today's patient leads a very busy lifestyle, the mall helps to meet consumer demands for more convenient, community-based health care services. Such services can be provided more cost effectively in an outpatient setting than in a more traditional hospital environment.
Dr. Winkenwerder added that the medical mall will provide a foundation for better patient outcomes by encouraging more coordinated delivery of primary, specialty and ancillary services.
About Highmark Inc.
Highmark Inc. is a national diversified health and wellness company based in Pittsburgh that serves 34.4 million people across the United States through its businesses in health insurance, dental insurance, vision care, information technology and integrated health care delivery. The company, which has more than 20,000 employees, is the ninth-largest overall U.S. health insurer and the fourth-largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated company. Highmark operates health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia that serve 4.9 million members. The company also offers health and wellness products to clients with employees throughout the country and is a recognized leader in reinsurance. In addition, the company operates more than 600 optical retail stores and four U.S.-based eyewear manufacturing facilities. Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
SOURCE Highmark Inc.