Aerial view of the Emlenton Area Medical Center, built with funds from the
Dr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Phillips Charitable Trust, in 1980.
For forty years, the Emlenton Area Medical Corporation (EAMC) has been ensuring access to critical primary care services for the 700 residents of Emlenton Borough and surrounding areas. In total, this comes to 12,000 people in Emlenton, Parker, St. Petersburg, and other local townships, giving them the ability to see a doctor without traveling excess distances. However, at the end of this year, UPMC will be terminating its services to the area, leaving the Emlenton Medical Center without a physician. The EAMC is now looking for a new provider to fill the spot in Emlenton and offer the vital care this office supplies to area residents. Without this community office, many residents will be forced to travel for their medical care, including those who live in the residential apartment building across from the Medical Center – many of whom are elderly and disabled. However, not just those in the adjacent apartment building will struggle to find the resources to travel the distance for a new doctor – it will become a community burden.
While Western Pennsylvania is seeing growth in the tourism industry, investments in the rural area, and steadfast employers who are providing secure employment and adequate compensation for the area residents, the loss of medical care to the community would be a tremendous overlook, not only for the well-equipped doctor’s office, suited to serve, but also due to the complete disinvestment in those who live here and depend on local resources such as the medical center.
The EAMC is working tirelessly and diligently to find a replacement health professional to fill the space at the Medical Center on Main Street. To take action on this matter, residents can find a petition at Linmas Drugs Inc. on Main Street in Emlenton. Further, reaching out to Venango County Commissioners is advised. Chip Abramovic can be reached at 814-432-9502, Sam Breene can be reached at 814-432-9509, and Ken Bryan can be reached at 814-432-9504. Senator Scott Hutchinson can be reached at (814) 677-6345, and Representative R. Lee James can be reached at (814) 677-6413. If you have any information that may be beneficial to the EAMC, Barbara Warden, president of the organization, is taking emails at barbarawarden@embarqmail.com. Any information or help is greatly appreciated, not only by the EAMC but also by the residents who depend on this medical center and the care it provides. Health care is a right; easily accessing health care is a right. The EAMC has fought for this right for forty years and how unfortunate, and regrettable losing this asset will be.
Community support is vital for local medical organizations like the Emlenton Area Medical Corporation, as they provide essential services to residents. When communities rally together, it ensures that everyone - especially the elderly - receives the care they deserve. For families seeking additional support for senior loved ones, hospice care services are available at https://mylifechoice.org/, offering compassionate and personalized care. Supporting local healthcare facilities and specialized services like hospice can greatly enhance the quality of life for the community’s most vulnerable members.