HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health today (March 29) celebrated the start of construction on its third adult acute care hospital, the 300,000-square-foot, three-story Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center in Cumberland County.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which included speakers from Penn State Health, Highmark Health and the Hampden Township commissioners, also featured a special guest: VFW District 18 Commander David “Spike” Gyger. In recognition of Vietnam Veterans Day, Gyger presented Penn State Health with a flag to fly over the project site during construction. After community members and Penn State Health leadership turned over the first shovels, guests got a virtual sneak peek at the planned interior of Hampden Medical Center with a 360-degree animated fly-through of the building.

Hampden Medical Center, located in the Wentworth Corporate Center at the intersection of Good Hope and Wertzville roads, will give residents of Cumberland and Perry counties, as well as the broader Harrisburg area, enhanced access to the primary and specialty care services of Penn State Health without having to make the drive to Hershey.

“Together with Highmark Health, we are committed to creating a health network that will offer our patients diverse, high-quality care closer to where they live,” said Dr. Craig Hillemeier, dean of Penn State College of Medicine, CEO of Penn State Health and senior vice president for health affairs at Penn State. “We made a promise to patients across the region that they will be within 10 minutes of Penn State Health primary care providers, 20 minutes of our specialty care providers, and 30 minutes of a Penn State Health acute care facility, and Hampden Medical Center is one way we are delivering on that promise to the families in the West Shore area.”

The new $200 million facility will feature 110 inpatient beds, an emergency department, physician offices, various specialty inpatient services, image and lab services, and complete medical and surgical capabilities. It will feature an open medical staff, with a plan to develop collaborative programs between Penn State Health physicians and private community providers. Hampden Medical Center will include an attached outpatient medical office building.

“Our partnership with Penn State Health advances Highmark’s mission to create a remarkable health experience for customers — one that is high-value, affordable and convenient,” said Deborah Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark Inc. “Through a joint $1 billion investment, we are creating a community-based care network that enhances access, innovation and competition for central Pennsylvanians. Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center is a cornerstone of this effort, establishing an important care access point for current and future generations.”

The project will bring hundreds of well-paying jobs to the area, both during construction and for hospital operations. The construction process is expected to bring about 600 jobs; and once operational, the hospital will initially employ 650 people, with a planned increase over the first three years to about 1,000 employees.

Hampden Medical Center is expected to open in summer 2021. Cannon Design and Barton Malow Alexander are partnering with Penn State Health on this project.