(File Photo of the Heritage Valley Health System Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Center Township, PA) Allegheny Health Network and Heritage Valley Health System are now planning a merger that would expand the footprint of Allegheny Health Network into the Beaver County area, which would add the Heritage Valley Sewickley and Heritage Valley Beaver hospitals to its network. The merger was agreed upon in October, but it requires approval from the state attorney general’s office. The hearing by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office yesterday was one of the final steps in the process. Norm Mitry, the CEO of Heritage Valley Health System, explained why this development is necessary, Deputy Attorney General Eugene Herne listened to responses from the public as to why the merger will work, and 34 people spoke to support the merger during the hearing that lasted over two hours at the Hilton Garden Inn in Center Township.