By Pittsburgh Senior Advisor Care Team · October 15, 2026
Butler Memorial, Westmoreland, Latrobe, Frick and Clarion hospitals joined the West Virginia University Health System on October 1, 2026 and now carry WVU Medicine branding. Discharge planning works the same way: you still choose the nursing home, rehab or personal care home, and CMS and DHS records are how to compare them.
What changed on October 1, 2026?
The West Virginia University Health System officially added the five hospitals of the former Independence Health System: Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant, Latrobe Hospital and Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. WVU Medicine signs went up at all five, and the brand is being extended to former Independence clinics and facilities.
Uniontown Hospital in Fayette County was already part of WVU Medicine. In Washington County, the former Washington Hospital is UPMC Washington.
Which local hospitals now belong to which system?
The southwestern Pennsylvania hospital map now has three large systems plus Heritage Valley in Beaver County.
| County | Main hospital systems families will meet |
|---|---|
| Allegheny | UPMC and Allegheny Health Network (AHN); VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System for veterans |
| Westmoreland | WVU Medicine: Westmoreland (Greensburg), Latrobe, Frick (Mount Pleasant) |
| Butler | WVU Medicine: Butler Memorial |
| Washington | UPMC Washington |
| Fayette | WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital |
| Beaver | Heritage Valley Health System |
| Armstrong | families also travel to Butler and Pittsburgh hospitals |
Does the change affect where a patient can go after discharge?
No. A patient leaving a WVU Medicine hospital still has the right to choose among post-acute providers with an available bed, whether that is a skilled nursing facility for rehab, Medicare home health or a personal care home. Case managers may have new referral relationships, so ask for the full list of options rather than the first suggestion.
Westmoreland County has 19 certified nursing homes and Butler County 11; our county pages list each with its CMS ratings.
What about insurance networks?
If your parent has a Medicare Advantage plan or a Community HealthChoices plan, check that both the hospital and any rehab facility are in network. System changes can shift contracts over time. Original Medicare is accepted wherever a provider participates in Medicare.
PA MEDI counselors at the county Area Agency on Aging can review Medicare plan questions for free; in Westmoreland County call 724-830-4444 and in Butler County 724-282-3008.
Will doctors and clinics change names too?
WVU Health System said the WVU Medicine brand will appear at other former Independence Health System clinics and facilities in the near future. Expect new signs, new patient portal links and possibly new phone numbers for scheduling over the coming months. Keep the old numbers handy until the new ones are confirmed.
If your parent's records are needed by a nursing home or personal care home, ask the hospital's medical records office which system to request them from during the transition.
What about personal care homes near these hospitals?
Personal care homes and assisted living residences are licensed by DHS, not by hospital systems, so the change does not affect their licenses. The homes near Greensburg, Latrobe, Mount Pleasant and Butler that families already use remain on the DHS roster with the same license numbers, capacities and inspection histories.
Our Greensburg, Latrobe and Butler town pages list every licensed home there with its dementia unit and latest inspection date.
What should families of current patients do?
If your parent is a patient now, nothing about the care plan changes because of the new name. Confirm the case manager's direct number, ask whether any post-acute referral lists have changed, and make sure the discharge summary goes to the next provider. For follow-up appointments, ask which scheduling line to use while the systems merge.
If you need help comparing nursing homes or personal care homes near Greensburg, Latrobe, Mount Pleasant or Butler, our town pages list every licensed option.
How should families prepare for a discharge from these hospitals?
Ask on the first day whether the stay is inpatient or observation, who the case manager is, and what the team expects the next setting to be. Then pull up the CMS ratings for the nursing homes on the list and the DHS records for any personal care home being considered.
If the long-term plan is a personal care home, use the rehab stay to tour. Butler County has 24 licensed personal care homes and assisted living residences and Westmoreland County 40, per DHS data retrieved October 28, 2026.
The WVU Medicine change: what it is and is not
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | Butler Memorial, Westmoreland, Latrobe, Frick, Clarion now WVU Medicine | a closure of any hospital |
| Discharge choice | still the patient's | limited to WVU-affiliated providers |
| Nursing homes | still licensed by DOH and rated by CMS | rebranded by the merger |
| Personal care homes | still licensed by DHS | affected in their licenses |
Frequently asked questions
Which hospitals joined WVU Medicine on October 1, 2026?
Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals, the five hospitals of the former Independence Health System.
Do I have to go to a WVU-affiliated nursing home after discharge?
No. You can choose any post-acute provider with an available bed that accepts your coverage.
Is Uniontown Hospital part of WVU Medicine?
Yes, Uniontown Hospital was already part of WVU Medicine before the Independence Health System hospitals joined.
Where can I compare nursing homes near these hospitals?
Our Westmoreland and Butler County pages and the nursing home directory list every certified home with its CMS ratings.
