Warren General Hospital is about to turn a new page in its history with the naming of Dan Grolemund as its new CEO, succeeding the retiring Richard Allen.

But it’s largely due to Allen that there is a page to turn at all.

It may be difficult to remember now, but there was a time when Warren General Hospital faced serious financial difficulties. Allen led the hospital board through some difficult choices early in his tenure as hospital CEO – but those decisions have resulted in years of positive operating margins and a 20% growth in net revenues. Improved finances allowed the board to reinvest in the hospital, including the addition of the DaVinci Robotic Surgical Platform, 3D mammography, MediTech Expanse E.H.R. and renovations to the ER and maternity unit. The hospital provides emergency medical services, laboratory and pathology services, cancer care and radiology services, maternity and pediatric services, inpatient psychiatric care, drug and alcohol detox, critical care, general and orthopedic surgery, urology, non-urgent walk-in care services, and physical therapy/rehab services. Additionally, Warren General provides outpatient primary care at six locations across the county. Those services are absolutely necessary for thousands of people in our area.

Grolemund, who spent 23 years at Warren General Hospital in a variety of positions before leaving to serve as president and CEO of Corry Memorial Hospital in 2023, comes back to Warren to lead a hospital that finds itself in a different place than Allen found it. It’s a better place, to be sure.

That doesn’t mean the future won’t be difficult. Rural hospitals are struggling. Many are closing departments like labor and delivery. Dependence on federal funding means a constant wary eye on what’s happening in Washington, D.C., because it has a definite impact on the bottom line here in Warren.

We’re sure there will be tough times on the horizon. That’s the status quo for rural hospitals both in Pennsylvania and across the country. We wouldn’t be surprised if there are tough decisions coming soon for Warren General Hospital leadership. We also have no doubt the hospital will weather those tough decisions in part because of the foundation that Allen has helped rebuild during his tenure as WGH president and CEO.