Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania health system strikes deal to acquire hospital
WellSpan Health is looking to expand its footprint in central Pennsylvania.
Roxanna Gapstur, president and CEO of WellSpan Health, left, and Kendra Aucker, president and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital.
The Pennsylvania-based system said Monday it plans to acquire Evangelical Community Hospital, a 131-bed hospital, and its associated clinics and outpatient locations. The hospital is based in Lewisburg, a community about 60 miles north of Harrisburg.
Assuming regulators give their approval, WellSpan said it hopes to complete the transaction by July 1, 2024. When the deal is complete, the hospital will be known as WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital.
The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
More hospital mergers have been taking place in recent months, and analysts expect to see more deals in the near future, particularly as some hospitals face considerable financial strain. Kendra Aucker, president and CEO of Evangelical Community Hospital, pointed to the challenging landscape in a statement about the deal.
“We recognize the shared vision WellSpan has for community-based care, and we were deliberate in the decision to choose a partner who would ensure our patients continue to receive the high quality care they have come to expect from Evangelical Community Hospital,” Aucker said in her statement. “The industry is facing strong financial and workforce headwinds, and this integration will provide the best path forward, so we may continue to provide for the health and wellness needs of our communities well into the future.”
Assuming regulatory approval, Evangelical will join WellSpan, which operates eight hospitals and many physicians offices and outpatient facilities in 12 counties across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.
Roxanna Gapstur, president and CEO of WellSpan Health, said the move fits with WellSpan’s goals of “innovation while keeping healthcare local.”
“As the only locally-governed health system in Central Pennsylvania, our mission is focused on improving the health of our friends and neighbors. When health outcomes improve through innovative care models, strategic partnerships, and a strong sense of purpose, it creates a fantastic combination,” Gapstur said in a statement.
“We have great respect for what Evangelical Community Hospital means to its surrounding communities and we know our mutual values of integrity and respect for all will make this a great fit,” she added.
WellSpan said it would create a separate philanthropic foundation to help generate support for Evangelical, just as the system has done for other hospitals.
Evangelical Community Hospital received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last year. After the hospital received the rating, Aucker said in a statement, “This five-star rating is another affirmation that regardless of healthcare facility size, the heart of healthcare lives in the compassionate delivery of medical expertise.”
Pennsylvania has seen a few hospital deals in recent months.
Jefferson Health said in December it plans to acquire the Lehigh Valley Health Network, based in northeastern Pennsylvania. If approved, the merger will create a 30-hospital system. Penn Medicine said in January that it plans to acquire Doylestown Health, as Penn continues its expansion beyond Philadelphia and into the surrounding suburbs.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council recently launched the inaugural Pennsylvania Beef Trail with menu tastings at two highlighted trail stops in Berks County.
Held in May to celebrate Beef Month, the event brought together Pennsylvania Beef Council leadership, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, local restaurant partners, beef producers and community members to celebrate Pennsylvania beef, local food businesses and the culinary creativity found across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Beef Trail highlights restaurants across the state serving standout beef dishes nominated by consumers. Hosted on the Pennsylvania Beef Council website, the trail features an interactive map designed to help Pennsylvanians discover delicious beef dishes by region and plan their own beef-inspired dining experiences.
“The PA Beef Trail is a celebration of everything that makes Pennsylvania beef special: the farmers who raise it, the restaurants that prepare it and the consumers who love it,” Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release.
“Launching the trail during May, which is Beef Month, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the connection between agriculture, local businesses, and the meals that bring people together.”
The celebration featured two stops on the trail: Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown and Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville.
Attendees sampled a variety of featured beef dishes, including pit beef sliders, sausage sandwiches, smoked chuck roast tacos, and Golden Arches flatbread from Saucony Creek Brewing Company, as well as beef pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and The Luther from Deitsch Eck Restaurant.
The launch event also underscored the role of beef in Pennsylvania’s agricultural identity and local economy. By highlighting restaurants that serve creative, consumer-loved beef dishes, the trail encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses while recognizing the farmers and producers behind every plate.
“Pennsylvania beef has a story that stretches from pasture to plate,” Kylie Lusk, director of consumer affairs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release. “The PA Beef Trail gives consumers a fun, interactive way to explore that story while discovering restaurants and dishes they may not have tried before. We’re excited to see people use the trail throughout the year to support local restaurants and celebrate beef across the Commonwealth.”
The inaugural PA Beef Trail features 73 stops across Pennsylvania, showcasing a wide variety of dishes, from burgers and brisket to short rib, oxtail ragu and other creative beef-forward menu items. Organized by region, the trail makes it easy for consumers to find nearby stops or plan a road trip around Pennsylvania’s beef destinations.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council encourages consumers to explore the trail, visit participating restaurants, and share their experiences on social media.
To view the interactive map and explore the full PA Beef Trail, visit www.pabeef.org/pa-beef-trail.
President Trump is visiting the Lehigh Valley next week.
Mr. Trump will speak at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania, Tuesday at 2 p.m. Macungie is roughly 10 miles from Allentown.
Mack Trucks is a 1.7 million square-foot facility in Macungie that assembles heavy-duty trucks for North American and export markets, according to its website.
“Mack Trucks are a symbol of America’s manufacturing strength,” Rep. Dan Meuser said in a Facebook post about Mr. Trump’s upcoming visit to Pennsylvania. “Their Lehigh Valley operations are a pillar of the local economy, employing Pennsylvania workers and driving the nation’s trucking industry.”
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Mr. Trump visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, multiple times. He’s also visitied during his second term.
In December 2025, Mr. Trump said in a speech in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, that he was “crushing” inflation and called affordability concerns a “Democratic hoax.”
One week later, Vice President JD Vance aimed to calm the affordability concerns at a Uline facility in Alburtis, about 13 miles southwest of Allentown.
Tickets are available for Mr. Trump’s visit to Macungie next week on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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