Frankford Hospital becomes Aria Health

Frankford Hospital has a new name, effective today: Aria Health.

The change, which took effect this morning, is designed to mimic its musical namesake (and thus be pronounced ARE-ee-uh), and signify that physicians, nurses and support staff combine forces, said George A. Voegele, chairman of Aria Health's board.

Maria Cerceo Slade, a health system spokeswoman, said Frankford needed a new name that would give it a "more regional brand" as it expands further into the suburbs.

The hospital system, which serves Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County and traces its history to 1903, is made up of three acute-care hospitals (Frankford and Torresdale Campuses, and the Bucks County Campus), two Northeast Philadelphia outpatient centers, and a network of primary and specialty-care physicians' offices.

Aria says it continues to seek approval to build an acute-care hospital in Lower Makefield, Bucks County.