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News for Altoona peeps re UPMC

  • I mentioned this on here a couple of weeks ago. Altoona Hospital's talks with UPMC are heating up and it looks like an affiliation, and thus "UPMC Altoona" is likely inevitable.

    This is good news for Altoona, because, by far, UPMC offers the best support, deal, and independence between potential suitors based on the precedent. Other suitors were Highmark and Geisinger, while Penn State-Hershey was less seriously considered.

    As a side benefit for area Pitt fans, think how nice it will be to have a giant "UPMC" atop the Hospital, dominating the Penn State-centric skyline of Altoona. No matter if it is an independent close affiliate of the university, everyone knows it stands for "University of Pittsburgh Medical Center". All those PSU fans getting their care essentially from Pitt's clinical wing, ahhhh. Even funnier, its likely where everyone in Centre County will likely end up if they end up with something serious. Growing up in Altoona, I do find this humorous.

    But the real win is that Altoona Hospital, which I've heard a tons of complaints about locally in regards to quality, is going to get its management straightened out and it is likely going to have millions dumped into it to update and expand services. It is going to be the major hub for UPMC in south central PA. If you have any doubts, look at expansions done at Hamot, Passavant, St. Margaret's, and Mercy. It's going to be able to recruit better physicians, specialists and surgeons too. Even more so than before, it is likely going to draw people into the area for medical care. This is great news for Altoona.

    This post has been edited 9 times, most recently by CrazyPaco on 11/21/2012 at 10:44 AM

    ARHS to focus on UPMC partnership - AltoonaMirror.com - Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - The Altoona Mirror

    After almost a year of discussion with potential big-brother partners, Altoona Regional Health System has decided to focus on UPMC.

    www.altoonamirror.com

    UPMC to negotiate to take over Altoona Regional Health Systems | TribLIVE

    http://triblive.com/business/headlines/2996940-74/health-upmc-altoona-regional-system-hospital-million-further-geisinger-highmark#axzz2CeQ1unFA

    triblive.com

    UPMC, Altoona Regional enter exclusive talks about affiliation agreement - Pittsburgh Business Times

    Altoona Regional Health System on Wednesday announced that it has entered exclusive affiliation discussions UPMC after considering aligning with Geisinger Health System and a budding provider network being developed by health insurer Highmark Inc.

    www.bizjournals.com
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    CrazyPaco

  • Yes, this is a cool thing for Toona. It's also broadens the UPMC footprint. UPMC does bring a great reputation with the name alone. I understand the trauma center might be the one unit that needs the upgrade the most.

    I know it's the most used.

    waltspappy

  • Altoona and UPMC almost merged over a decade ago, back when Altoona Mercy was still around. There were serious talks then and it centered around upgrading the trauma center. It didn't happen, obviously, but UPMC, for a little while, did supply some expertise for the trauma center while they were flirting.

    If Hamot is any indication, Altoona is in for some major upgrades, and absolutely, the trauma center is going to be a focus. I think UPMC dumped in something like $300 million into Hamot and only required 1/3 representation on their board. In comparison, Highmark committed $65 million to St. Vincent's in Erie for 3/4 of their board. It is really a no brainer. I thought Geisinger had a better shot than Highmark, (Geisinger really wanted Altoona bad) but they just don't have the resources to bring to bare, and frankly, aren't as good of a brand.

    Take a look at the financial improvement of Hamot in one year with UPMC:
    http://www.goerie.com/article/20121019/NEWS02/310199969/UPMC-Hamot-has-year-like-no-other

    The question, obviously, is what does this mean for insurance in Altoona, because most have Highmark although UPMC Health Plan has been trying to move in. This will be interesting to watch, because unlike Erie, Highmark doesn't have any other hospitals to buy in the area. The closest similar one, Conemaugh, has already stated that it intends to stay independent although it is look for some sort of partnership. My guess is that UPMC Altoona will continue to accept Highmark even if hospitals in Pittsburgh and Erie eventually don't. This is a big time loss for Highmark though so I'm sure they will try to block this at every turn possible and drum up as much negative press for it as possible, just like they did for Hamot and Mercy.

    This also sort of moves UPMC, for the first time, into competition to Penn State Hershey. Mount Nittany Medical Center, about half the size of Altoona Hospital, is a PSU-Hershey affiliate. I would have to think UPMC is going to siphon some patients out of their territory.

    On the flip side, while Nason's (42 beds in Roaring Spring) is going to be part of this as it was set to merge with Altoona, I'm not sure what happens there...it will be sitting between UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford (59 beds). I don't think Nason's will go away, it'll probably remain status quo, but eventually might transform into more of a urgent care+outpatient center like UPMC South Side did.

    This post has been edited 7 times, most recently by CrazyPaco on 11/21/2012 at 10:35 AM

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    CrazyPaco

  • That would be great if they partner with Indiana. My wife works for UPMC and was looking to have to go to McKeesport, but maybe soon Altoona will be an option.

    I'd love to see them take over in Johnstown.

    Bob Lichtenfels ●

  • Bob Lichtenfels said...

    That would be great if they partner with Indiana. My wife works for UPMC and was looking to have to go to McKeesport, but maybe soon Altoona will be an option.

    I'd love to see them take over in Johnstown.

    Bob, If you don't mind me asking. Which campus does your wife work at? I have family and friends all over UPMC. Presby, Shadyside, and Saint Margaret.

    waltspappy

  • Bob Lichtenfels said...

    That would be great if they partner with Indiana. My wife works for UPMC and was looking to have to go to McKeesport, but maybe soon Altoona will be an option.

    I'd love to see them take over in Johnstown.

    UPMC used to own Lee Regional, but couldn't turn it around so they sold it to Conemaugh in 2005. Conemaugh is going to try to stay independent if they can. I don't think Indiana is in play. I think your best bet is Altoona in the near future.

    This post was edited by CrazyPaco on 11/21/2012 at 12:14 PM

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    CrazyPaco

  • CrazyPaco said...

    UPMC used to own Lee Regional, but couldn't turn it around so they sold it to Conemaugh in 2005. Conemaugh is going to try to stay independent if they can. I don't think Indiana is in play. I think your best bet is Altoona in the near future.

    Indiana is NOT in play at all....

    goadie

  • I hope this helps our recruiting efforts in these towns.

    Is Paco incredible? He knows all kinds of stuff. Someone who will go nameless once said," Another Paco myth". My silent response was to quote to myself, lyrics from Jim Croce's, Bad,Bad Leroy Brown."You don't mess with Superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind. You don't pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger and you don't mess around" with Paco.

    KayserSouze

  • waltspappy said...

    Bob, If you don't mind me asking. Which campus does your wife work at? I have family and friends all over UPMC. Presby, Shadyside, and Saint Margaret.

    She works in a Doctors office doing Allergy stuff, not sure of the technical title

    Bob Lichtenfels ●

  • KayserSouze said...

    I hope this helps our recruiting efforts in these towns.

    Is Paco incredible? He knows all kinds of stuff. Someone who will go nameless once said," Another Paco myth". My silent response was to quote to myself, lyrics from Jim Croce's, Bad,Bad Leroy Brown."You don't mess with Superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind. You don't pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger and you don't mess around" with Paco.

    There's a lot I don't know about a lot. But I do know a lot about Pitt.

    Pitt in my hometown? you know I'd be all over that.

    This post was edited by CrazyPaco on 11/21/2012 at 2:40 PM

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    CrazyPaco

  • CrazyPaco said...

    There's a lot I don't know about a lot. But I do know a lot about Pitt.

    I truly believe Paco, you are as smart as me in the long run. Twist that anyway you guys want to.

    I will say Paco is great, no the greatest for this site.

    waltspappy

  • What other sites do you know that can boast a Paco-Lichtenfel, Finn and Croft? If we can get rid of this fuggin' Jew bastard doctor, we'd have it made.

    Editor's note: On TSOS this post would have been banned for fear of offending Jews.---kinda ironic when I was the only Jew there, but some Cracker punk attorney and incompetent pharmacist could make anti-Semitic remarks and go ignored.

    F--k TSOS: My parting words. Hail 247.

    As you may have guessed, I'm already wearing my #54 Bobby Martin Pitt jersey and pumping from 18ft. on my court. Sadie won't go after the ball. The Beauviers were crazy about bk. God, I miss them. They protected my family.

    KayserSouze

  • ^^Don't forget to put your pants on. 7:00 PM.

    waltspappy

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