UPMC Will Close Braddock Hospital in January 2010
UPMC officials announced today that it is closing its UPMC Braddock facility.
Starting next month, the hospital will begin moving its clinical operations to other UPMC facilities.
The hospital will close completely at the end of January.
UPMC issued a news release this morning formally announcing the closure.
"UPMC's mission of providing access to superb clinical care must be carefully balanced with a prudent stewardship of our economic resources and their effective utilization across the entire UPMC system," said Elizabeth B. Concordia, executive vice president, UPMC, and president, Hospital and Community Services Division.
UPMC officials say the closure is due to a declining usage by Braddock residents and a loss of nearly $27 million over the last six years.
"This decision was made in the face of continued declining community utilization of UPMC Braddock," Concordia added in the statement, "which impaired the long-term viability of services we're able to offer."
About 670 people work at the hospital which sees about 25,000 patients a year in the emergency room alone.
The health system plans to continue to operate key community-based outpatient programs in Braddock.
Hospital officials tell KDKA that four out of five people in Braddock seek treatment elsewhere.
Stay with KDKA for the latest details.
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