About Us

Welcome to The Primary Health Network, the largest community health center in Western Pennsylvania.

Our network includes 14 medical, dental and optometry service locations in Mercer County. We now have 18 sites throughout Beaver, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Crawford, Indiana, Lawrence and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania and Ashtabula and Trumbull Counties in Ohio.

We employ a provider staff that consists of over 130 physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners and numerous other healthcare professionals; and support a staff of over 400. In the past year, PHN provided services to over 80,000 people.

Primary Health Network offers comprehensive primary health and subspecialty services and work within our communities by participating in health fairs and networking with area agencies and organizations; and providing outreach services to businesses and corporations including executive and work physicals, and annual flu shots.

At PHN we strive to assist our patients toward a fuller, healthier lifestyle. This is why we offer health education, free pregnancy tests, and blood pressure screening at all medical sites, and van transportation for Shenango Valley residents to medical appointments.

Personal attention, convenience and expert care are available throughout our organization, where you will feel at home with our family doctor approach.

Our Accreditations

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization is dedicated to improving the quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. It sets high standards of care and challenges organizations to meet those standards. The Primary Health Network was first accredited after a team of Joint Commission surveyors conducted an on-site survey and evaluation in August, 1997 and found that we had demonstrated compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards of ambulatory care.

We were re-surveyed again in 2000,2003, 2006 and 2010. This survey showed that we have maintained quality and improved in the provision of healthcare. We at PHN view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence. It demonstrates that we are committed to providing high quality care to our patients.

Board Members

Mike Yurisic,
President
Advanced Bulk & Conveying

Steve Sant,
President Elect
1st National Community Bank

Madalaine Nuzzo,
Secretary
Retired, Practice Administrator

Jesse Hull,
Treasurer
Silpada Designs Representative

Don Perry,
Past President
CEO Bio Remedial Technologies

Tom Burich,
VP of Managed Care
UPMC Horizon

Jack Laeng,
CEO Primary Health Network

Cheri Lima,
Community Representative

Debbie McCanna,
Retired, Community Representative

Jerry Murray,
Patient Representative

Jonathon Pettis,
Executive Director
The Franklin Center

Doug Nasci,
Vice President
James & Sons Insurance

Stephen R. Sant,
Community Representative

Joan Jofery,
Attorney At Law

Tom Scott,
Community Representative - New Castle

Anthony Kos,
Community Representative - Transfer

Wilford Payne,
Community Representative - Pittsburgh

Jeff Baughman,
Community Representative - Hermitage

Past, Present & Future

Our History

The Primary Health Network was founded to provide medical care to the residents of the Shenango Valley and was originally named The Shenango Valley Primary Health Care Center. Since our inception in 1984, The Primary Health Network, a private, non-profit organization, has worked with local communities to develop and implement a new model of health care: the community health center. Prior to the establishment of community health centers, patients had limited choices for medical care. Hospital emergency rooms became their family doctors because many of them lived in communities where there were few medical providers, and financial barriers kept most from seeking preventive care.

The community health center differs from private medical practices by its broad range of services, and its management structure. Our network of sites exists because of the great need for a wide range of healthcare services accessible to people of all incomes. PHN now provides the following services: Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Surgery, Geriatric Medicine, Neurology, Optometry, Oral Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Podiatry, Psychiatry, and Sports Medicine. The Center for Health & Well-Being includes, but is not limited to Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Aquatic Exercise, Reiki Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Pain Management and Nutrition Education. As part of PHN’s focus on healthy lifestyles, we also offer exercise classes. The management structure lends itself to community involvement and interaction because a volunteer board composed of community leaders and residents governs the community health center.

Where We Are Today...

The Primary Health Network began as one small community health center and has grown to include 32 service facilities in 12 counties. We employ over 500 full and part-time providers and support staff, and reach more than 80,000 people annually through health and educational services. In keeping with the changing health care market, PHN participates in most managed care plans, processes most insurances and offers sliding fee billing to anyone who qualifies, regardless of insurance status.

Looking To The Future!

Our country’s future health care system will present new challenges and opportunities for us to grow. The Primary Health Network stands ready to meet the health care needs of all residents in the communities we serve and will continue to look to the future as we look forward to continuing to provide quality health care and caring.