History of UPMC Harrisburg

Milestones in Our History

1873

• Harrisburg Hospital is officially founded.

1956

• The first open-heart surgery is performed at Harrisburg Campus.

1968

• Harrisburg Hospital sponsors the first Community Mental Health Center in Dauphin County. Services include inpatient psychiatry, mental health outpatient services, emergency services for psychiatric patients and consultation services.

1969

• The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is opened at Harrisburg Campus.

1978

• $33.7 million project is approved by the board for Harrisburg Hospital.

1980

• The first percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is performed at Harrisburg Campus.

1987

• Harrisburg and Seidle Hospitals merged to form Capital Health System.

1998

• Dedicated stroke units are opened in both Harrisburg and Polyclinic Hospitals as part of the formation of a comprehensive stroke care program.

1999

• The Heart & Vascular Institute opens. The same year it is named one of the top 100 U.S. providers of heart care, according to a study by HCIA, a Baltimore-based health care information and analysis company.

2000

• A new cardiovascular center opens on the fourth floor, featuring improved waiting areas and state-of-the-art technology.
• Five new operating rooms open.

2005

• The Heart & Vascular Institute drives the first cardiac patient in the new VIP Van Service, a courtesy shuttle service for cardiovascular patients at the Harrisburg Campus.
• The Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is created, designed to fill the gaps between traditional outpatient and acute behavioral health services. This service is located on the Harrisburg Campus in Press Hall now under the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.

2010

• Harrisburg Hospital is the first hospital in central Pennsylvania to be recognized as an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
• The Spine Institute opens, which uses a multidisciplinary team approach to provide patients with comprehensive care for neck and back pain.

2011

• Launch of the CardioVascular Institute which includes 31 specialists from the region’s most respected and requested cardiology group.
• Harrisburg Hospital Emergency Department fully operational after construction update.

2012

• New Orthopaedic and Spine units open.

2017

• PinnacleHealth becomes part of UPMC health system. Harrisburg Hospital becomes UPMC Harrisburg.

2018

• New maternity unit opens.

2019

• New private room, Level III NICU opens.

2020

• New UPMC Children’s Harrisburg pediatric unit opens.