Mission Statement

Bon Secours-Holy Family Regional Health System is a body of people who share the healing ministry of the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Catholic Church.

Our Mission is to provide high quality, compassionate health care to those in need:

•  We strive for excellence as a standard of performance.
•  We promote healing and wellness.
•  We serve the whole person - body, mind and spirit.

We are committed to providing community service, especially to families.
We treat all persons with dignity and respect.

All are welcome.

The Values of Bon Secours Health System

Respect: We treat all people well because we believe each person has dignity.

Justice: We support, protect and promote the rights of all individuals and have special concern for the poor.

Integrity: We are honest in our dealings; our behavior is consistent with our thoughts, feelings and values.

Stewardship: We use all of our resources in a responsible way.

Innovation: We look for new ways to meet people's needs and improve our service.

Compassion: We experience and express empathy with the life situations of others.

Quality: We continuously improve our service through understanding and acting on the needs and expectations of those being served.

Growth: We strive to expand our services to meet new needs, and we promote the development of our co-workers.

A history of Bon Secours-Holy Family
in Altoona

They were prominent and civic-minded leaders - doctors, businessmen and a priest. These men envisioned a hospital and a school of nursing for a growing community. In 1909, ideas and dreams became action as the men set their signatures to an agreement of association "for the purpose of forming a corporation to be known as the Mountain City Hospital."

Shortly thereafter, with the hope of asking a congregation of sisters to staff the hospital, the new organization was renamed the Mercy Corporation. Its purpose, as set forth in its charter, was the treatment of diseases, injuries and disabilities and the training of nurses. It was organized, and has been conducted, for purely benevolent purposes, not for profit.

The formal ceremonies marking the opening of Mercy Hospital took place July 14, 1910. The hospital was staffed by 15 physicians and six nurses, with all modern facilities such as laboratory and X-ray equipment. To meet the needs of the community, patient beds were steadily increased, reaching 180 in 1927. Major building expansion programs were also undertaken in 1960, 1976 and 1991. In 1985, Mercy became the first community hospital in the country to offer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

In 1992, the hospital changed its name to Mercy Regional Health System to reflect its transition to a modern integrated delivery network.

The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who were asked by the board of directors in 1935 to administer the hospital and its school of nursing, guided the hospital's development for more than 60 years before inviting the Sisters of Bon Secours to cosponsor the organization in 1996. The cosponsorship is reflected in the name - Bon Secours-Holy Family Regional Health System. The Sisters of the Holy Family ended their sponsorship in 2003.

In 1999, the hospital affiliated with Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown to share services and offer a regional health care system to managed care companies and employers.