Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health’s plan to issue about $225 million in new bonds to help fund its Oct. 31 Epic launch has not affected capital projects, Joe Wysock, the system’s vice president of facilities, told Becker’s.
“Honestly, I’ve seen zero impact,” Mr. Wysock said. “We continue to grow and expand.”
The planned bonds, disclosed in the system’s 2026 fiscal year financial report, will help fund the switch from Oracle Health/Cerner to Epic, among other capital costs. Penn State Health saw $131.2 million in operating income (2.6% margin) on about $5 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ended June 30.
Mr. Wysock said the system has “a lot in the pipeline,” building on several recent openings. Among them is a 40,250-square-foot comprehensive cancer center that opened in October 2025 at its Hampden Medical Center in Enola, Pa.
Penn State Health’s Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill, Pa., also added 53 behavioral health beds in July, and its Lancaster (Pa.) Medical Center will open a level 2 neonatal ICU Oct. 31.
Mr. Wysock, who has been in his role since February, said a strong margin has allowed for a “data-driven approach” toward capital that weighs access needs and patient demand against the condition of existing facilities. Along with new development, he said many older system facilities are slated for additional investment.
“Not only are we creating new facilities, but our existing facilities, they have to be safe, they have to be compliant, they have to be reliable and they have to be well maintained,” he said.
Mr. Wysock said his team has also had the full support of Penn State Health’s CFO and COO to ensure funding is available for its facility requests.
Facility decisions are tied to the system’s “0-10-20-30” vision: virtual care within zero minutes, primary care within 10, specialty care within 20 and hospital-based care within 30.
Mr. Wysock said he sees workforce development as a key long-term challenge, adding that the system is focused on recruiting and retaining skilled trades professionals. To that end, Penn State Health is partnering with local colleges to reach graduates interested in healthcare, and is exploring offerings such as healthcare certifications and tuition reimbursement.
“Workforce development is going to be a huge key to making sure that we’re successful in the future,” he said.
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