DuBOIS — Fayette County’s Highlands Hospital is joining Penn Highlands Healthcare, cementing the health care organization’s place as one of the fastest growing systems in Pennsylvania.

The boards of the DuBois-based Penn Highlands and the Connellsville-based Highlands have signed a definitive agreement to integrate Highlands into the Penn Highlands system.

The 64-bed Highlands Hospital was acquired two months after the merger of the 200-bed Monongahela Valley Hospital in Washington County with the Penn Highlands System. The new facility there is called Penn Highlands Mon Valley.

Penn Highlands was formed in 2011 and is made up of seven hospitals, two long-term care facilities and a senior residential living center. The health system employs about 5,600 workers at more than 150 locations serving 39 Pennsylvania counties, including McKean, Elk, Potter and Cameron counties, according to its website.

Penn Highlands Elk operates in St. Marys.

“This is an exciting time for Highlands Hospital and the community,” said Michael A. Jordan Jr., board president of Highlands Hospital board of directors. “Highlands Hospital has been serving the community for 130 years and, with the support of Penn Highlands, we will continue to provide quality services and care to patients for many years to come.”

The affiliation with Penn Highlands Healthcare, anticipated to take effect in early 2022, is designed to strengthen the healthcare services provided by the Connellsville health care provider.

“Penn Highlands continues to grow our footprint into the southern part of the state,” said Robert A. Ordiway, chairman of Penn Highlands Healthcare board of directors. “The affiliation with Highlands Hospital allows us to extend our mission to further provide exceptional care to communities across the Commonwealth.”

The organizations share similar missions and values, added John Andursky, Highlands Hospital President and CEO. “We look forward with this opportunity to grow Highlands Hospital’s services and continue to provide quality care to our community and patients.”

Steve Fontaine, CEO of Penn Highlands Healthcare, said, “Penn Highlands Healthcare continues its growth by adding new hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and physician practices. This affiliation with Highlands Hospital is another step to achieve our vision to be the integrated health system of choice.”

The signing of the definitive agreement means that Highlands Hospital and Penn Highlands Healthcare have agreed to the terms and conditions of a prospective affiliation. Throughout the next several months, both parties will engage in additional due diligence, research and discussions to facilitate a smooth integration of Highlands Hospital into Penn Highlands Healthcare once regulatory approval of the affiliation is secured.

As of October, Penn Highlands had 5,654 employees, 632 inpatient beds, 399 long-term care beds, 132 personal care beds, 37 independent living units, 740 physicians with 211 of them as employees, and 374 advanced practice providers with 233 of them employed.

The annual net revenue was approximately $825 million.