Cedarcrest Health Breaks Ground on Surgical Suite Renovation at Cedarcrest Medical Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — May 20, 2026 — Harlow Falls, PA

HARLOW FALLS, PA — Cedarcrest Health leadership, physicians, and community partners gathered on the Cedarcrest Medical Center campus this week for a ceremonial groundbreaking marking the start of a $14.2 million renovation of the hospital’s surgical suite, the first major overhaul of the department since 1998.

The eighteen-month project will modernize four of the hospital’s eight operating rooms, adding updated ventilation systems, integrated surgical imaging, and expanded space to accommodate minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures. Renovations will proceed in phases to ensure surgical services continue uninterrupted throughout construction.

“Our surgical teams have done remarkable work in a space that, frankly, has needed this investment for years,” said Marcus Feld, Vice President of Facilities and Support Services. “This renovation gives our surgeons and staff the modern environment they need to keep delivering excellent outcomes for patients across the region.”

The renovation is funded through a combination of hospital reserves, a bond issuance, and gifts to the Cedarcrest Health Foundation, including a lead gift from the Ellery Township-based Rourke Family Foundation. CEO J. Thomas Weller thanked donors and the Cedarcrest Health Foundation Board for their support of the project.

“This is exactly the kind of investment our community expects from its hospital,” Weller said. “We are building for the next generation of surgical care in the Allegheny Highlands.”

About Cedarcrest Health: Cedarcrest Health is a nonprofit regional health system serving Kettle County and the surrounding Allegheny Highlands region of Pennsylvania, anchored by the 302-bed Cedarcrest Medical Center in Harlow Falls and the 74-bed Renner Community Hospital, a critical access hospital serving Renner and Ellery Township. Cedarcrest Health also operates outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and physician practices throughout the region.

Media contact: Marketing & Community Relations, (814) 555-2415, news@cedarcresthealth.org

Page last reviewed: 06/30/2026