(Moon Twp., PA, June 4, 2009) – Heritage Valley Health System has announced the implementation of a new online feature for patients to check the volume levels of various points of service in the health system directly from the Heritage Valley website (www.heritagevalley.org).

The activity indicators show, in real-time, how many patients are currently receiving services at various Heritage Valley locations, including the emergency departments at their hospitals in Beaver and Sewickley, outpatient laboratory test centers, as well as the Heritage Valley ConvenientCare Center on Third Street in Beaver. Additional locations will be added in the near future.

“The ‘real-time’ patient volumes listed on the website provide a general indication of how busy each service area is at any given time,” said Rosemary Nolan, Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Valley Health System. “These indicators are a great tool for the public as they select a location for healthcare services. A patient can use the tool to guide them to the least busy site that meets their needs, which is especially helpful for non-scheduled care such as lab work. In the case of the emergency departments, it is important to keep in mind that patients may be treated ahead of others because of their condition and if patients think they may have a medical emergency, they should call 911 immediately. As part of our commitment to be ‘uniquely connected for life,’ we hope this new on-line service provides a helpful guide for finding the most convenient and timely care possible.”

About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System provides comprehensive healthcare for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with more than 400 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its two hospitals, Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley; in physician offices; and community satellite facilities. Additional information about Heritage Valley Health System is available online at www.heritagevalley.org.