Penn State Health is expanding access to primary care services in the Reading area. The Commonwealth Primary Care group -- with physician practices in Fleetwood, Oley and Exeter -- became members of the Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Group on Feb. 1.
“We are both honored and pleased that Commonwealth Primary Care is joining our growing system,” said John R. Morahan, Penn State Health St. Joseph president and CEO. “Their addition is a clear example of how we are expanding our primary care network and our capabilities to deliver high quality, comprehensive care to the Berks Community.”
President of Commonwealth Primary Care (CPC), Dr. Robert Hippert, said joining Penn State Health St. Joseph will offer the practice’s nearly 15,000 patients access to the nationally ranked resources of Penn State Health, and also bring the practice additional operating expertise.
“First, as doctors, the operational help we gain by becoming part of the system will enable us to stay focused on our passion: providing care to our patients,” he said. “Additionally, our patients have a lot to gain because their total care can be aligned and coordinated with Penn State Health St. Joseph and Hershey Medical Center, with the added benefit of the leading-edge research occurring at Penn State University. In this way, patients in Berks now have access to a top tier, comprehensive academic medical system, if and when they need it.”
CPC was founded in 1980 and has 40 employees. It has been part of Pottsville-based Integrated Medical Group, P.C., since 2008. It provides primary medical care to patients in Berks and Lehigh counties.
Dr. Hippert, and the other CPC physicians -- Dr. Robert Sellers, Dr. Eugene Fellin, Dr. Robert Hornickle and Dr. Eric Newman -- and their three CPC practices joining Penn State Health are: Fleetwood Medical Associates, Richmond Street, Fleetwood; The Oley Valley Family Practice, Main Street, Oley; and Healthways Family Medical Center (Exeter Ridge), Exeter Township.
Dr. Christopher Newman, St. Joseph’s chief medical officer, said CPC’s addition is another example of where “we are expanding our broad menu of opportunities to partner with physicians in ways that better serve patient needs and also help physicians secure their futures.”
