Apple Hill Health Campus Expansion
WellSpan Health has exciting plans in the works for the Apple Hill campus and adjacent areas. Through 2021 several projects will occur simultaneously. They include:
- WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center — construction beginning summer 2019 with an expected opening winter 2021
- WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion — construction beginning summer 2019 with an expected opening summer 2021
- Stein Parking Area — construction beginning summer 2019 with an expected completion winter 2020/2021
This site will provide updates on constructions areas, road work, parking area changes and upgrades and campus detours.
Project Updates
A new home for heart and vascular care improves patient access to advance care in York - April 2021
The new WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center will build healthy hearts in York County by providing patients with state-of-the-art cardiovascular care as well as programs that promote healthy eating and exercise, all from the same campus.
The $33 million, two-story center, opening May 3 on South George Street, houses WellSpan Cardiology, WellSpan Cardiac Surgery and WellSpan Vascular Surgery. It also houses supporting outpatient cardiovascular services including the WellSpan Heart Failure Program and non-invasive procedures such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms and vascular ultrasound. The new center also will offer a cardiac rehabilitation program, housed in a roomy, bright gymnasium with large windows that look out on the campus.
In addition to providing care, the center will teach patients how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle. It features a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes supplied by fresh produce grown in a rooftop garden. Patients also can exercise on a rooftop track and on a walking trail that winds through the campus.
They also can shop for fresh seasonal foods on the campus, at the J-Mar Farms stand on Monument Road, to the rear of the center. Produce from the stand will be featured in the demonstration kitchen and in meals served at the center’s Healthy Heart Café.
“WellSpan is making cardiovascular health a priority in southcentral Pennsylvania, by providing a modern center where our highly skilled teams can work collaboratively. We know how important this care is for building healthy communities,” said Christopher Lipp, Vice President of Heart and Vascular Services at WellSpan Health.
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, heart disease remains the leading killer in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In York County, about a third of residents report having high cholesterol and about 40 percent report having high blood pressure, according to the most recent community health assessment.
Also, only about 3 to 4 percent of those residents eat three servings of vegetables daily and only between 15 and 20 percent of residents engage in a half-hour of exercise five days of the week.
“Our new center not only provides our patients with state-of-the-art care, it also equips them with the tools to go beyond our walls and live their best lives,” said Dr. James Harvey of WellSpan Cardiology, York.
The new WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center, which is adjacent to the WellSpan Apple Hill campus, seeks to offer patients a warm, welcoming experience, with minimal wait times.
The building enters onto an atrium lobby featuring a two-story wooden wall with the outline of a large tree, designed to bring the feeling of nature inside the center. Patients can check in at a kiosk in the lobby, where WellSpan registration team members also can assist them with the process.
On the first floor, the lobby connects to color-coded and lettered hallways, each housing different specialties. At the entry to every hallway, patients will see a digital sign, which will display the names of on-duty providers and a short bio about them. The hallways also feature local artwork and murals designed to provide a relaxing, nature-filled atmosphere.
The first floor also houses the Heart Healthy Café offering breakfast and lunch items, such as overnight oats, a Southwestern flatbread and a Green Goddess salad, among others.
The second floor houses the cardiac rehabilitation gym, where patients can look out large windows as they exercise on treadmills and stationary bicycles. Just outside the gym, they can access the rooftop exercise track that encircles the rooftop garden. The second floor also houses noninvasive cardiology services, where patients will undergo echocardiograms, stress testing and electrocardiograms.
Project Updates
Oncology Research team excited to move into new Cancer Center - March 2021
A new year is now upon us, and the first day of the new WellSpan York Cancer Center opening to the public is fast approaching. When the Center opens, several specialty practices, departments and services will move into the new building with more than 100 staff, nurses, clinicians, physicians and APP’s.
The Oncology Research Team will also be moving into the new WellSpan York Cancer Center. A dedicated team of professionals whose work improves outcomes through patient enrollment into research studies and clinical trials.
“We offer clinical trials for patients that have been diagnosed and/or are being treated for cancer,” said Joan Moore, WellSpan Oncology Research Director. “Our patients have access to National Cancer Institute trials in their own communities."
Along with Moore, the WellSpan Oncology Research Team includes a regulatory associate, two data managers and five oncology research nurses that help to support Gettysburg, Ephrata, Lebanon and York.
The team began enrolling patients in clinical trials in 1991. Since then, 3,235 patients have been enrolled, including 3,172 oncology patients.
There are currently 103 clinical trials across WellSpan, with 45 of them actively enrolling patients. Oncology patients are followed for a minimum of ten to 15 years, but many of them are followed throughout their lives. The team is currently following 38 patients in active treatment and 585 others.
“That’s the difference with oncology studies, is that while many trials only follow patients for three months or some defined timeline, we look at long-term outcomes and side effects that happen down the road,” said Moore. “Our trials are done to find a cure, or to offer a treatment that may have less side effects, or to improve their overall quality of life. We want to improve the outcome of our patients in any way we can.”
The team is very excited to move into the WellSpan York Cancer Center this Spring. Their new space will include multi-use rooms for patient and family consultation, a research pharmacy, a conference room for audits and space for staff workstations.
Work that can have a really big impact on the outcome of WellSpan’s cancer patients once the new WellSpan York Cancer Center opens its doors soon.
Recent Accomplishments
- Ceilings Installed - As work continues inside the new building, ceilings have recently been installed.
- Pharmacy Equipment - The new on-site pharmacy is ready for equipment to be installed.
- Paving and Sidewalks - Onsite paving at the WellSpan York Cancer Center was recently completed, as were the sidewalks outside of the building.
Significant Milestones Ahead
- Generator Installation - The building’s new generator will be installed in the near future.
- Canopy Completion - The new WellSpan York Cancer Center’s front and rear canopies are nearing completion.
- Open to the Public - The WellSpan York Cancer Center Expansion will open to the public soon.
Project Updates
Teaching the value of heart healthy meals in new Demonstration Kitchen - January 2021
As construction on WellSpan Health’s new state-of-the-art Heart and Vascular Center enters its final stages, focus shifts toward the work that will be done inside the walls of the building once it opens to the public. A team of professionals will provide exceptional cardiovascular care, along with exemplary patient services that take a whole-person approach to health.
One key to that whole-person approach to health will be the Center’s new demonstration kitchen, headed by Rosario Campisi, corporate executive chef, who is known to many simply as Chef Russ.
“I think science and fact-based information and education is the key to helping a person make informed choices that can lead them to an active lifestyle and maintain good cardiovascular health,” said Chef Russ. “Food is medicine, and good food is powerful medicine. I’m excited and honored to be able to contribute to this effort that will affect the health of the community in a positive direction.”
According to WellSpan’s 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment findings, 11 percent of York County residents have heart disease, have had a stroke or have had a heart attack. 39 percent have high blood pressure, 72 percent are overweight or obese, and the majority of residents are not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and/or are not physically active.
The demonstration kitchen will be located in the Cardiac Rehab area, on the second floor of the building. Activities will include cooking demonstrations by Chef Russ and others, to illustrate heart healthy food preparation. Chef or dietician-led demonstrations and education sessions will teach basic cooking skills and provide tips for eating healthy, even on a budget.
The demonstrations and classes will begin soon after the opening of the building, and will also be able to be recorded and live streamed for other facilities throughout WellSpan to participate.
“After attending a class or series of classes, we want a person to be armed with the tools and knowledge to use healthy food as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Chef Russ. “They will learn how to do that, without sacrificing flavor at all. They would learn to use natural flavor enhancers, instead of salt; or grilling and broiling techniques instead of frying, for example.”
The building’s on-site café, named the “Healthy Heart Café,” will also feature a menu focused on healthy food options and will offer seasonal “chef specials” to promote farm fresh produce. A rooftop herb garden and a produce stand that will co-exist on the Heart and Vascular Center’s property are other ways WellSpan is looking to improve access to healthy food options in the York County community.
Recent Accomplishments
- Parking Lot Paving - Base paving in the west parking lot has recently been completed.
- Decorating the Facility - Artwork for most of the locations outside of the exam rooms have been selected.
- Name the Café - The “Name the Café” contest recently wrapped up. The winning name is “Healthy Heart Café.” Thanks to all who participated!
Significant Milestones Ahead
- Green Roof - Planters are being placed on the new Heart & Vascular Center’s green roof.
- Construction Nearing Completion - 92 percent of construction of the new WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center is now complete, as we move ever closer to our Spring 2021 launch day.
- Grand Opening - The new WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center will open to the public on May 3.
Project Updates
Final Stone Put in Place at New WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center - October 2020
A major milestone was recently reached, as the final stone was put in place at the new, state-of-the-art WellSpan 
Heart and Vascular Center.
WellSpan leaders, staff, donors and crew members were able to maintain social distancing while signing the date stone before it was placed onto the building.
The two-story, 60,520-square-foot facility, adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus in York Township, will streamline patient access to comprehensive cardiovascular services in one location, including: cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiovascular surgery, heart failure clinic, cardiac rehabilitation and non-invasive heart center.
"All of us with WellSpan Health are excited about the opening of the new WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center and what it means to our community," said Megan Lecas, senior vice president for service lines. "Not only does it provide us an opportunity to provide excellent cardiovascular care, but it also allows us to educate our community on cardiac health and to provide preventative services, to allow our community to stay a healthy step ahead."
The new center will also feature a cardiac rehabilitation gym that extends on to a rooftop garden, a café on the first floor and a demonstration kitchen to help teach patients and families how to prepare and cook heart-healthy meals. The grounds of the center will also include walking trails and expanded parking.
The estimated cost of the project is $33 million, and it is expected to be complete in early 2021.
For more information, visit WellSpan.org/Heart.
Project Updates
Construction continues on multiple projects at and adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus. - August 2020
The outline of the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion is complete, with the final beam put in place in June. Interior walls began to be put in place in July, while exterior walls are expected to start enclosing the building in August. Roofing will also begin on August 10, as we rapidly approach our Spring 2021 launch day. All photos provided by Alexander Building Construction Co.
August 2020 - WellSpan York Cancer Center aerial view
August 2020 - Interior of WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion
August 2020 - Interior of WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion
Work continues at what will soon be the WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center, adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus. Brick placement is underway outside, with interior construction beginning in May. Asphalt placement in the site's East Parking Lot was completed in early July. Photos courtesy of Wohlsen Construction.
August 2020 - Aerial view of the new WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center
August 2020 - Interior framing on the second floor of the new WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center
August 2020 - Exterior brick installation at the future site of the WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center
Construction also continues at the site of what will be the Stein parking lot across from Old Baltimore Pike and adjacent to the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion project. Photo provided by Alexander Building Construction Co.
August 2020 - Aerial view of the Stein parking lot
Project Updates
Final beam raised onto the WellSpan York Cancer Center Expansion - June 2020
A major milestone was recently reached in the construction of an expansion to the WellSpan York Cancer Center, as the final beam was put in place.
WellSpan leaders, staff, donors and crew members were able to maintain social distancing while signing the beam before it was raised.
Once completed, the new cancer center will boast nearly 84,000 square feet of space, where patients will be able to receive all of their oncology services under one roof, including: radiation oncology, outpatient infusion, infusion pharmacy, clinical trials and research, patient navigators and social workers, among others.
"The new WellSpan York Cancer Center will provide a truly integrated care experience that surrounds our patients with the services and treatment they need in a calm, healing environment," said Douglas Arbittier, M.D., MBA, vice president of oncology services, WellSpan Health. "The final beam being put into place marks an exciting step toward opening up this sophisticated center which our community deserves."
In addition to traditional clinical services, the center will feature holistic care through the WellSpan Center for Mind/Body Health, including massage therapy and yoga, along with an appearance center and boutique that will provide specialized items in a supportive environment. There will also be an on-site café and a conference space for classes, therapeutic activities, support groups and community education.
Treatment rooms will be equipped with reclining chairs, temperature controls and other features. Infusion bays will include private spaces for loved ones to stay with patients during treatment.
The approximately $45 million project is expected to be completed in early 2021.
WellSpan Cancer Centers provide comprehensive cancer services – including radiation, medical and surgical oncology, pain management, rehabilitation, infusion services, genetic counseling and nutrition services – that address patients’ physical, emotional, social and financial needs. Specialists across central Pennsylvania routinely collaborate in the treatment planning for patients, and nurse navigators guide patients through all aspects of care.
For more information, visit WellSpan.org/Cancer.
Project Updates
Construction continues on multiple projects at and adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus. - January 2020
Construction of the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion has moved rapidly with temporary removal of the parking area, and old Entrance D to the health center. Crews are preparing to excevate the ground to provide lower level parking beneath the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion that will be built atop the old parking area outside of former Entrance D. All photos provided by Alexander Building Construction Co.
January 2020 - WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion construction
January 2020 - WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion construction
January 2020 - WellSpan York Cancer Center and Stein Parking lot aerial view of construction
Construction also continues at the site of what will be the Stein parking lot across from Old Baltimore Pike and adjacent to the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion project. Ground has been leveled and a retaining wall constructed as part of the project that will increase parking at the campus. Photo provided by Alexander Building Construction Co.
January 2020 - Stein parking lot construction
Work is also underway at the site of the soon to be WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center across from Monument Road, adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus. Construction workers have started to construct concrete footers that will serve as part of the foundation of the building. Photos courtesy of Wohlsen Construction.
January 2020 - Signage has been installed highlighting the new WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center.
January 2020 - Concrete footers are poured at the future site of the new WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center.
January 2020 - Concrete is poured at the future site of the WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center.
Temporary traffic changes planned for Apple Hill Health Campus - November 2019
Patients and visitors to the Apple Hill Health Campus in York Township will experience temporary traffic changes as a result of ongoing construction of the expanding WellSpan York Cancer Center.
Starting Monday, Nov. 18, Bartels Way will close to traffic from Old Baltimore Pike to the driveway for the WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital.
Visitors wanting to access Bartels Way should use the two Monument Road entrances to the campus. Directional signage and support services are in place to ensure patients, visitors and staff are able to easily get to their destination on the campus.
During construction, complimentary patient valet service is provided at building entrances C, and E/F, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The rabbittransit bus line that serves the Apple Hill Medical Center will not be impacted by this road closure.
The closure is expected to be in place throughout the construction of the WellSpan York Cancer Center expansion, estimated for completion in 2021.
The expansion of the WellSpan York Cancer Center, as well as the construction of the nearby WellSpan Heart and Vascular Center will transform the campus with expanded patient services and easier access through additional parking.
November 2019
Project Updates
Building Entrance & Parking Updates - October 2019
Building entrance D, most commonly used as the entrance to WellSpan Radiation Oncology, has closed due to longterm construction. Ongoing work also restricts parking in the upper and lower lots of the Apple Hill Medical Center, as depicted in the map below. Complimentary valet services are available adjacent to building entrances E & F Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
October 2019
October 2019
Parking Update - September 2019
New routing for vehicle access to building entrances E & F at Apple Hill Medical Center during early stages of construction. Both building entrances remain open, but due to the construction, parking is unavailable in this lot. Complimentary valet services are available at building entrance F Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
September 2019
September 2019
September 2019
Aug. 2019 - Crews have leveled the ground where the new WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center will be built.
Aug. 2019
WellSpan Health breaks ground on $45 million expansion of WellSpan York Cancer Center
New facility will deliver easier access to patient services and treatment
Aug. 27, 2019
WellSpan Health broke ground Tuesday on a significant expansion of the WellSpan York Cancer Center at the Apple Hill Health Campus in York Township, offering comprehensive, integrated cancer care in one convenient location.
“This is an exciting milestone for the York community that will strengthen WellSpan’s highly respected oncology program,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health.
“Cancer care and technology have evolved in the 25-year history of the cancer center, and so have the needs of our patients,” Gapstur continued. “Our expanded center is designed to treat the whole person through the whole journey, from cancer diagnosis through treatment, all in one place.”
The plan is for an approximately 67,100-square-foot addition to the current WellSpan York Cancer Center. That will bring the new cancer center to nearly 84,000 square feet of space once completed in early 2021. The estimated cost of the project is $45 million.
The new cancer center will consolidate several oncology services under one roof that are currently provided at multiple locations in the York area, including: radiation oncology, outpatient infusion, infusion pharmacy, clinical trials and research, patient navigators and social workers, among others.
The layout of the new facility is intended to surround the patient with services and treatment they need in a calm and healing environment. It will include holistic care through the WellSpan Center for Mind/Body Health, including massage therapy and yoga. There will also be an “appearance center,” which will provide specialized items in a supportive environment.
Also new will be an on-site café and a conference space for classes, therapeutic activities, support groups and community education.
Treatment rooms will be equipped with reclining chairs, temperature controls and other features. Infusion bays will include private spaces for loved ones to stay with patients during treatment.
“The high-caliber skill of our specialists and clinical staff has always been a pillar of strength at WellSpan York Cancer Center,” said Douglas Arbittier, M.D., MBA, vice president of oncology services, WellSpan Health. “This expansion will allow us to provide that exceptional care in a setting designed to enhance the patient experience while on their cancer treatment journey.”
WellSpan’s coordinated network of regional cancer care includes centers in York, Hanover, Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Ephrata and Lebanon.
WellSpan Cancer Centers provide comprehensive cancer services – including radiation, medical and surgical oncology, pain management, rehabilitation, infusion services, genetic counseling and nutrition services – that address patients’ physical, emotional, social and financial needs. Specialists across central Pennsylvania routinely collaborate in the treatment planning for patients, and nurse navigators guide patients through all aspects of care.
WellSpan also collaborates with the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center.
July 2019 - Crews work to move earth at the future site of the WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus.
July 2019 - View from Monument Road adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus. Several structures have been razed on the future site of the WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center with construction fences going up on the property. The project is expected to be completed by Fall 2020.
WellSpan Health breaks ground on state-of-the-art Heart & Vascular Center
June 13, 2019
WellSpan Health leaders and staff joined with community members Thursday to officially break ground on the new, state-of-the-art WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center adjacent to the Apple Hill Health Campus in York Township.
The two-story, 60,520-square-foot facility will streamline patient access to comprehensive cardiovascular services in one location, including: cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiovascular surgery, heart failure clinic, cardiac rehabilitation and non-invasive heart center.
“The WellSpan Heart & Vascular Center is an example of WellSpan’s focus to become easier to use and create greater access to specialty care, closer to home,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health. “Our roots in York County run deep. What started as a three-story hospital on a hill is now the largest, most comprehensive and only locally governed health system in Central Pennsylvania. This center is the next chapter of that story.”
The building was designed to foster collaboration among WellSpan’s highly skilled physicians and care teams, as they provide some of the region’s most advanced cardiovascular diagnostic and treatment options available.
“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in both men and women,” said William Nicholson, M.D., interventional cardiologist, WellSpan Cardiology. “That’s why WellSpan employs a specialized team of board-certified cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons that bring decades of experience to every procedure.”
The center will feature a cardiac rehabilitation gym that extends onto a rooftop garden, providing a calm, healing environment for patients, visitors and staff alike. The grounds of the center will also include walking trails and expanded parking.
Local farm market, J-Mar Farms, will continue to offer fresh produce at a new stand to be constructed on the property.
“J-Mar is such an important part of this community and promoting healthy eating of farm fresh produce on the grounds of our Heart & Vascular Center is a win-win,” said Thomas McGann, executive vice president, WellSpan Health.
Additional highlights include a café on the first floor and a demonstration kitchen to help teach patients and families how to prepare and cook heart-healthy meals.
The estimated cost of the project is $33 million, and it is expected to be complete by fall 2020.
WellSpan Health announces $45 million expansion of WellSpan York Cancer Center
January 29, 2019
WellSpan Health today announced plans to significantly expand its WellSpan York Cancer Center at the Apple Hill Health Campus, offering comprehensive, integrated cancer care in one convenient location.
"Today is an exciting day for WellSpan and for the residents of our region, as we announce a major investment that will strengthen WellSpan’s highly respected oncology program," said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health.
"York County deserves a sophisticated center for cancer care that matches the high-caliber skill of our specialists and clinical staff," Gapstur continued. "Coupled with the skill of our physicians and the power of our relationship with the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, this facility will positively impact thousands of our friends and neighbors who live with cancer."
The project will include an approximately 67,100-square-foot addition to the current WellSpan York Cancer Center. Once completed, the new cancer center will boast nearly 84,000 square feet of space – all under one roof. The estimated cost of the project is $45 million.
The project is currently in the design phase, and regulatory approvals are in process. Groundbreaking is expected to occur in late summer or early fall 2019, with completion by early 2021.
The new cancer center will consolidate several oncology services currently provided at multiple locations in the York area, including: radiation oncology, outpatient infusion, infusion pharmacy, clinical trials and research, patient navigators and social workers, among others.
Officials noted that the new facility is intended to provide an array of services that cancer patients may require on their care journey. As an example, the new WellSpan York Cancer Center will include holistic care through the WellSpan Center for Mind/Body Health, including massage therapy and yoga.
New to the center will be an “appearance center and boutique,” which will provide specialized items in a supportive environment. Also new will be an on-site café and a conference space for classes, therapeutic activities, support groups and community education.
Treatment rooms will be equipped with reclining chairs, temperature controls and other features. Infusion bays will include private spaces for loved ones to stay with patients during treatment.
"We're proud of our legacy of expert cancer care and treatment, and we remain honored to meet the needs of our patients," said Douglas Arbittier, M.D., MBA, vice president of oncology services, WellSpan Health. "The new WellSpan York Cancer Center will provide a truly integrated care experience that surrounds our patients with the services and treatment they need in a calm and healing environment."
WellSpan's coordinated network of regional cancer care includes centers in York, Hanover, Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Ephrata and Lebanon.
WellSpan Cancer Centers provide comprehensive cancer services – including radiation, medical and surgical oncology, pain management, rehabilitation, infusion services, genetic counseling and nutrition services – that address patients’ physical, emotional, social and financial needs. Specialists across central Pennsylvania routinely collaborate in the treatment planning for patients, and nurse navigators guide patients through all aspects of care.
WellSpan also collaborates with the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center.
