Geisinger Announces Plans for Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center

Officials from Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center today announced the next step in a multi-phase strategic plan to make better health easier in northeastern Pennsylvania by unveiling plans for an expansion and modernization project that will nearly double the size of the campus.

The proposed $900 million expansion plan will begin with preliminary work this year. It comes on the heels of several notable investments Geisinger has made in Luzerne County, including: a major expansion of the Henry Cancer Center in 2022; the construction of a 160,000 square-foot Medical Office Building; opening Geisinger HealthPlex CenterPoint in Pittston; service expansions at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre; and significant program growth in downtown Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton. With this latest investment at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Geisinger has invested approximately $1.4 billion into better and more accessible care for people in Luzerne County and the surrounding area since 2008.

These investments come at a time when the need for expanded healthcare access is growing in Pennsylvania – and nationally. Specifically in northeastern Pennsylvania, the 65 and older population, which generally require more healthcare resources, is expected to grow 11% over the next five years.

“Everything we do at Geisinger is about making better health easier for the communities we serve,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger’s president and CEO. “This investment not only represents our commitment to meeting the growing healthcare needs of our community, but further demonstrates our desire to deliver access to high-quality care in the region for generations to come. By investing in advanced infrastructure, expanding our facilities and acquiring the latest technology, we’re assuring that no one needs to leave northeastern Pennsylvania to get the care they need and deserve.”

Expansion plans at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center include constructing an 11-story bed tower that will transition the hospital to a 100% private-room facility and expand surgical capabilities while growing the emergency department and advanced cardiac care programs. Between new construction and renovation of more than 100,000 square feet in the existing hospital, the project will encompass about 600,000 square feet and nearly double the size of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.

When complete, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center will have capabilities on par with most major academic medical centers, including those in large metropolitan areas. These expanded programs and services in and around Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center will create hundreds of new jobs for nurses, physicians, advanced practice professionals and staff in various ancillary, support and diagnostic departments.

In addition to increasing the number of operating rooms and emergency room and intensive care beds, the project will also include the modernization of the Richard and Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital, which opened on the campus in 2001, increasing Heart and Vascular inpatient and surgical capacity as well as additional spaces for advanced cardiac interventional procedures.

“Through this expansion, we are not only creating a larger physical footprint but also fostering an environment of innovation, collaboration and compassion,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s northeast region. “Creating a fully private room facility, which has tangible quality and patient satisfaction benefits, embodies our goal to foster a welcoming and healing environment. This approach, in tandem with equipping our hospitals with the latest advancements, allows us to maintain a patient-centered model that prioritizes the individual needs of every patient who comes through our doors.”

The project will also advance Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center’s long-standing commitment as a major teaching hospital. It is nationally recognized for providing an exceptional educational experience and was named number 9 on Fortune’s list of the top 25 teaching hospitals in the country last year. The expansion will improve accommodations for medical residents and learners in areas like the operating rooms, procedure rooms and inpatient units.

The expansion will occur in phases with the new tower slated to open by 2028. Additional renovations on the existing campus will continue through 2030.