PITTSBURGH, September 23, 1996 — The Braddock Medical Center will become a subsidiary of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) it was announced today by the boards of directors of both organizations.
"This agreement to merge will ensure that we can continue to provide appropriate medical services to the population we now serve," stated Richard Benfer, president of Braddock Medical Center. Mr. Benfer went on to say that affiliation with a larger organization was necessary because recent changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement were making it difficult to provide the health care services needed by the population in the Mon Valley.
Braddock is a 250-bed acute care hospital established in 1906. It serves the communities of Swissvale, Rankin, Braddock, Braddock Hills, North Braddock, Forest Hills, East Pittsburgh, Turtle Creek, Homestead, Whitaker, West Mifflin, Wilmerding and Duquesne. UPMC is the area's major academic medical center which provides tertiary care to the entire tri-state area.
"Under the UPMC, Braddock Medical Center's mission to serve its community will not only be fulfilled but enhanced," stated Jeffrey Romoff, president of the UPMC.
As evidence of this commitment, UPMC has pledged to spend ten million dollars during the next two years to upgrade the Braddock Medical Center. Among the improvements planned are: replacement of the existing surgical suite; ICU/CCU consolidation; upgrading of patient floors; and emergency department renovation. UPMC also will provide the resources to upgrade sophisticated radiology equipment and specialty expertise.
Braddock Medical Center's financial needs will be addressed through efficiencies-of-scale along with the involvement in UPMC's new Medicaid HMO product, Best Health Care.
This year, UPMC has acquired the South Side and Aliquippa hospitals and has announced letters of intent to merge with St. Margaret Memorial and Shadyside hospitals. In addition, merger discussions are underway with Washington Hospital and several other institutions. The merger with the Braddock Medical Center expands the UPMC network of hospitals to the Mon Valley.