Milestone moment: UPMC Washington, UPMC Greene celebrate new affiliation
What a difference a year makes.
On Wednesday, UPMC Washington hosted a celebration at the hospital to commemorate its new affiliation with UPMC.
The celebration, which included flag-raisings at now renamed UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene in Waynesburg, comes one year after the health systems announced plans to merge.
Officials from UPMC Washington and UPMC praised the affiliation at a morning press conference.
无毛视频淟ast June, the boards of directors of Washington Health System and UPMC announced our signed affiliation agreement. The affiliation would achieve Washington Health System无毛视频檚 priority, to preserve local access to high-quality health care that is sustainable for years and years to come. It would uphold and protect a healthy future for this proud and great community. And now, one year later, UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene are an essential part of one of the finest health systems in the nation,无毛视频� said John Surma, chairperson of UPMC Board of Directors.
Leslie C. Davis, President and CEO of UPMC, said UPMC will invest $300 million over 10 years to upgrade facilities and services, and will provide $40 million to Washington Hospital Foundation to support initiatives the foundation chooses.
UPMC already had partnered with Washington Health System in a number of areas in recent years 无毛视频� among them, oncology, pediatric specialties, women无毛视频檚 health, and heart and vascular care 无毛视频� and Davis said UPMC 无毛视频渨ill build upon those partnerships to enhance local access to all of UPMC无毛视频檚 specialty care.无毛视频�
Davis also welcomed the 2,700 employees of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.
Earlier this month, the merger cleared regulatory hurdles, and the health system reached an agreement with union SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania to protect employee contracts and benefits.
Said Brook Ward, President of UPMC Washington, 无毛视频淭his affiliation not only guarantees local access to health-care service for our community members, but it also preserves jobs for our more than 2,000 skilled health-care service workers and upholds the status of us being one of the largest employers in Washington and Greene counties. This is a truly exciting time for our team, our community, and our patients.无毛视频�
Dr. John Six, UPMC Washington Vice President of Medical Affairs, highlighted the significant role the health system plays in the community: Annually, the hospitals treat more than 47,000 emergency department visits, provide more than 15,000 inpatient observations and visits and 310,000 outpatient visits, perform more than 1 million laboratory tests, and deliver more than 600 babies.
无毛视频淗owever, like many rural hospitals in the country, providing the most cutting-edge care has become quite a challenge in today无毛视频檚 health-care market. By joining UPMC, our providers will gain access to world-class resources and scientific expertise to better serve our patients,无毛视频� said Six. 无毛视频淚 am excited to contribute to the positive transformations that lie ahead.无毛视频�
Dan Miller, Chairperson of the UPMC Washington Board of Directors, commented on the institution无毛视频檚 long history, community focus, and impact.
无毛视频淲e know this hospital has provided great community care for 127 years, and I know, by joining UPMC, that we无毛视频檙e going to do another 127 here for the people in the community because this is a great place to live and work,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淐hange is never easy for any of us, but sometimes change is necessary and it无毛视频檚 a good thing. And I know, for this community, this is the right thing to do moving forward.无毛视频�
Miller also shared a personal story of his relationship with UPMC.
Nine years ago, his oldest grandchild, then 6 months old, was the victim of an incident at a North Carolina day care and suffered brain damage that resulted in cerebral palsy.
Miller无毛视频檚 daughter and son-in-law moved home to be closer to family, and his granddaughter began receiving care at UPMC, including undergoing spinal surgery at UPMC Children无毛视频檚 Hospital, therapy at Washington Children无毛视频檚 Therapy, and treatment at UPMC Children无毛视频檚 South.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e so thankful. I无毛视频檓 beyond grateful for what UPMC has done for her,无毛视频� said Miller. 无毛视频淲ill she ever be normal from the standpoint of physical abilities in her life? No. But her improvement since she came back here over the last eight-and-a-half years has been amazing.无毛视频�