TRR photo by Tom Kane Wayne Memorial Hospital officials broke ground in Lords Valley on June 5. Pictured, from left, are John Conte, director of facility services, Dr. Ghada Mitri, physician, Virginia Morris, nurse practitioner, Peter Rodgers, hospital board chairman and Roy Hamill, health services board chairman. (Click for larger image)

Ground breaking celebrates new health center future

By TOM KANE

LORDS VALLEY, PA — A new 7,000 square foot medical center will soon rise on four acres of land on Route 739 near I-84.

Called the Pike County Medical Center, Wayne Memorial Health Systems, it will replace the current medical center building further north on Route 739.

The new center will provide a blood lab and radiology lab in one section, space for primary care physicians in another section and a section for specialists.

Depending on the weather, the center’s completion is expected by the end of the year, hospital authorities said.

“This is another indication of how important Pike County is,” said David Hoff, executive director of Wayne Memorial Hospital. “Pike County is growing so fast that we need to be here.”

A health study recently conducted by the four area hospitals—Bon Secours, Wayne Memorial, Pocono Medical Center and Newton Memorial—pointed out the need for such a facility in the middle of the county.

“In the east, we have Bon Secours in Port Jervis and the Wellness Center in Milford but nothing for the people in the center of the county,” said Pike County Commissioner Harry Forbes.