GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Officials at Pitt County Memorial Hospital say the facility will change its name to UHS Medical Center beginning Oct. 1.

In addition, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina will shorten its name to University Health System, or UHS. The changes were announced Wednesday.

Since UHS was created in 1997, the system has grown to include eight hospitals, added physician groups and incorporated home health, hospice and wellness to its services. The UHS service area now encompasses 29 counties and provides access to care for more than 1.4 million people. Nearly 60 percent of PCMH patients travel to the hospital from outside of Pitt County.

In 1977, PCMH moved to its current location in west Greenville and later became the teaching hospital for the East Carolina University school of medicine.