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Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital and Palmerton Hospital both provide general and specialized services to area patients.

On July 1, 2004 Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital and Palmerton Hospital entered into a historic decision combining their organizations to create a single integrated health care system. In a special meeting on June 24, the chairpersons of the two hospitals signed the incorporation document creating Blue Mountain Health System.

From Competition to Cooperation
The formation of the Blue Mountain Health System ends an era of competition and begins a new era of cooperation between Carbon County's two hospitals. While competition in most industries is generally good for the consumer, competition in health care tends to result in duplication of services and in higher costs. Palmerton and Gnaden Huetten Hospitals are facing the same challenges as all hospitals across the nation straining under the burden of increasing labor costs, higher malpractice insurance premiums, increasing costs of pharmaceuticals and supplies, and declining reimbursement. In spite of these challenges, Palmerton and Gnaden Huetten Hospitals have been able to buy new medical equipment to keep pace with technology. By combining services, Blue Mountain Health System will not only be able to reduce the duplication of services but be able to provide new medical services while increasing access to care locally.

Also nearby is St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital encompasses a fully-accredited, non-profit, 61-acute bed hospital, a 53-geriatric bed skilled nursing facility and home health agency.

In addition to these health networks, residents can also participate in various HMOs. Aetna Health Plans of Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, Aetna/U.S. Healthcare/HMO of PA and Penn State Geisinger Health Plan all are available in Carbon County.

For healthcare-related links, visit our resources page.