Altoona, PA, October 21, 2019 – Although no longer performing joint replacement surgery at Penn Highlands Tyrone, University Orthopedics Center (UOC) will continue to perform other orthopedic surgeries in the specialties of sports medicine surgery, hand surgery, and foot and ankle surgery at Penn Highlands Tyrone. Additionally, UOC’s Dr. Bradley Barter and physician assistant Aaron Thompson will continue to see patients at the outpatient clinic in Penn Highlands Tyrone. “We remain committed to providing top-quality orthopedic care at Penn Highlands Tyrone for patients who prefer that location,” said Dr. Christopher McClellan, Director of Joint Replacement Surgery at UOC.

For those patients needing joint replacements, UOC will continue to perform this surgery in other regional hospitals including Mt. Nittany Medical Center, Penn Highlands Dubois, Penn Highlands Huntington, Conemaugh Nason Hospital in Roaring Springs, and UPMC Altoona. UOC also performs outpatient joint replacement surgery at the Advanced Center for Surgery in Altoona.

At the end of September, Penn Highlands Tyrone made the decision to discontinue its joint replacement services and focus its efforts in other areas to ensure their ability to meet the healthcare needs of the community. For the past 10 years, UOC maintained a close professional relationship with Penn Highlands Tyrone including performing a significant volume of surgeries and staffing an outpatient orthopedic clinic at the hospital. “We take great pride in our partnership with Penn Highlands Tyrone, helping to build that center into one of the busiest in Central PA. Our service to this community remains a priority for UOC,” said McClellan.

For more information on these developments or the services and treatments offered at UOC, call 814.231.2101 or visit www.uoc.com.

For nearly 30 years, University Orthopedics Center has provided quality orthopedic care to the people of western and central Pennsylvania. Specializing in diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services for patients with sports and other musculoskeletal injuries, as well as chronic/degenerative orthopedic disorders, UOC employs approximately 270 people, including 23 physicians. UOC is headquartered in State College and Altoona with regional offices in Bedford, DuBois, Huntingdon, Johnstown, Reedsville, Roaring Spring, and Tyrone. University Orthopedics Center is not affiliated with Penn State University.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated in December 2021 for accuracy.