A great time was had by all at the recent Heritage Valley Service Recognition Event, which was held on Wednesday, May 22 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. Employee years of service ranged from 5 to 50, and 75 of the award recipients have been with Heritage Valley for over 30 years! In addition to a cocktail reception and food stations, employees enjoyed live music, photo booths, raffles and team trivia. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate and recognize our employees!

The goal of National Stroke Awareness Month, held each year during May, is to create greater public awareness about stroke risk factors so that the number of strokes can be decreased. There are two main types of strokes: an ischemic stroke occurs due to a lack of blood flow; a hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to bleeding. Both types cause parts of the brain to stop functioning correctly. According to cdc.gov, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds.

Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley hospitals are certified as primary stroke centers by the Joint Commission. This certification identifies our programs as capable of prompt evaluation and initial treatment to any stroke patient who comes to our facilities.

Having the stroke center designation reduces response times for area residents suffering from stroke symptoms. This means our patients won’t need to travel for care and will receive treatment in the critical time after symptoms occur. Heritage Valley works closely with local EMS services and developed a refined process for assessing symptoms.



A key aspect of the Heritage Valley stroke response teams is the “telestroke” system Heritage Valley has developed with Pittsburgh hospitals. Heritage Valley Beaver physicians are connected by video to neurologists at UPMC facilities, and Heritage Valley Sewickley physicians are connected to neurologists at Allegheny Health Network.

In partnership with Heritage Valley Health System, the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley offers a Stroke & Brain Support Group. Join us in a positive, caring environment and connect with other individuals and caregivers living and coping with the effects of stroke. You will be able to share experiences, offer and receive support, and learn about community resources.

The meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in the café at the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley, located at 351 Camp Meeting Road, Sewickley, PA 15143. The remaining meeting dates for 2024 are: June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13 & December 11.

To find out how you can benefit from our support group or rehabilitation programs, please call 412-749-2297.

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) members in providing life-altering treatment. 

Heritage Valley’s Speech Therapy department offers a wide variety of adult outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services. Speech, communication, cognition, and swallowing greatly impact our quality of life. Our speech pathologists, who are accredited by ASHA, are dedicated to helping patients restore abilities in these areas. 

Medical conditions we treat include Stroke; Traumatic Brain Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, etc.); Head and Neck Cancer; Dementia; Primary Progressive Aphasia and Vocal Fold Dysfunction.

Please click here for more information or contact us at:

• Heritage Valley Beaver: 724-773-4664
• Heritage Valley Center Township: 724-773-6447
• Heritage Valley Kennedy: 412-777-6231
• Heritage Valley Sewickley: 412-749-7097

Each year, millions of people face the reality of living with a mental disease. The purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to focus attention on those living with mental or behavioral health issues, and to help eliminate the stigma often associated with these illnesses.

Heritage Valley Health System has long provided for the behavioral health care needs in the community, and offers an Adult Behavioral Health Unit at Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Kennedy and a Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy. The Adult Behavioral Health Units focus on the treatment and care of individuals, ages 18 and older, with behavioral health disorders. The inpatient Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit offers care to patients 60 years of age and older, in both short-stay acute and extended stay care, to help improve the quality of life for older adults with chronic and severe mental illnesses. Our staff works closely with the Heritage Valley Medical Staff to ensure that both the patients’ medical and psychiatric needs are met.

Beyond these inpatient programs, we have a long-standing partnership with Staunton Clinic, an outpatient mental health and resource coordination center, which enables patients’ care to continue once they return home. With sites in Bellevue, Edgeworth, Imperial and Wexford, Staunton Clinic provides services to assist people from all walks of life who are seeking to recover from a temporary or more long-term mental health condition. They offer child, adolescent and adult programs.

Mental health is an important part of overall health. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to us:

• Adult Behavioral Health Unit at Heritage Valley Beaver (724-773-4525)
• Adult Behavioral Health Unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy (412-777-1574 or 412-847-7510)
• Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy (412-777-6420)
• Staunton Clinic (412-749-7330)

If you are having a psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to your local Emergency Department. You can also access the crisis numbers listed below:

• Resolve Crisis Network: 1-888-796-8266
• Beaver County Crisis: 1-800-400-6180
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or text 988