Each year, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes a local business that has demonstrated a continued passion for excellence while promoting the advancement of responsible business leadership within our community. This year’s honoree UPMC Northwest is recognized as the major health care provider for residents of Venango County and neighboring counties. In addition to providing excellent health care services, UPMC Northwest is a major economic force, employing more than 940 at the hospital in Seneca, 145 at Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County and 170 at Sugar Creek Station skilled nursing center.

   The $75 million construction project that resulted in the opening of the new 189-bed UPMC Northwest hospital in 2004 in Seneca remains the largest ever in Venango County.

   Advancements and achievements that contributed to the committee’s choice of UPMC Northwest as Business-of-the-Year include:

• UPMC Northwest’s new Diabetes Care Center.
• The hospital’s affiliation with UPMC’s Heart, Lung & Esophageal Surgery Institute
• The hospital’s strengthening of its medical staff with the continued recruitment of new physicians.
• UPMC Cancer Center consolidated services  at one sight making it easier than ever to meet area residents’ cancer care needs.
• A comprehensive Stroke Program.
• The Cardiac Catheterization Unit which makes this advanced cardiac diagnostic procedure available here for the first time.
• Recent Imaging Department advancements
• UPMC Northwest’s 100-plus staff physicians practice over 30 specialties with than 90 percent  board certified. 

   UPMC Northwest has a 116-year history that traces back to the creation of Oil City Hospital in 1891 and the subsequent establishment of Franklin Hospital in 1899.

   This is UPMC Northwest’s second Business-of-the-Year award. The former Oil City Area Health Center was honored in 1986.