UPMC Braddock

{{Infobox hospital

| name = UPMC Braddock

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| location = 400 Holland Avenue, Braddock

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| state = Pennsylvania

| country = US

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| opened = 1906

| closed = January 11, 2010

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UPMC Braddock Hospital, formerly located at 400 Holland Avenue, Braddock, Pennsylvania, United States, was a full-service hospital that had served over 25 Monongahela Valley communities as a primary care facility for the Steel Valley and areas part of the Woodland Hills School District.[http://www.upmc.com/HospitalsFacilities/Hospitals/Braddock/about/Pages/braddock-history.aspx ]{{dead link|date=May 2019}} Opened in 1906, it was merged into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, more commonly known as UPMC, in 1996. The hospital stopped accepting patients on January 15, 2010 and closed on January 31, 2010.

Closure

Claiming that the facility was losing millions of dollars annually and was underutilized, in October 2009 UPMC's administration made a controversial decision to close the hospital on January 31, 2010.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09295/1007354-56.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Braddock officials preparing for action after hospital closes | first=Moriah | last=Balingit | date=2009-10-22}} However, UPMC's figures and the extent of the hospital's underutilization were disputed.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09304/1009740-56.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=UPMC Braddock usage rate disputed | first=Steve | last=Twedt | date=2009-10-31}} Allegations were also made that UPMC was violating civil rights laws by closing its hospital in the predominantly black community of Braddock. In January 2010, it was announced that the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would conduct an investigation.{{cite web |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_662285.html |title=UPMC Braddock Hospital closure may spark U.S. Probe - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |website=www.pittsburghlive.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124202156/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_662285.html |archive-date=24 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22247780/detail.html |title=Federal Gov. Investigates Braddock Hospital Closure - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh |website=www.thepittsburghchannel.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118003910/http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22247780/detail.html |archive-date=18 January 2010 |url-status=dead}} Also during this period, a community activist group, Save Our Community Hospital, was formed to attempt to stop or delay the hospital's closure.{{cite web | url=http://savebraddock.com | title=Save Braddock Hospital! | access-date=2010-02-01}} Numerous protests and demonstrations were held to protest the closing, including a "Zombie" protest march to UPMC's corporate headquarters.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09353/1022238-53.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Scare tactic: Zombies, others protest UPMC Braddock closing | first=Don | last=Hopey | date=2009-12-19}} Ultimately, the attempt to save the hospital was unsuccessful.

At the time of the closure, UPMC indicated that 75% percent of UPMC Braddock's 600 employees had transferred to other UPMC jobs.{{cite web|url=http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/|title=Daily News - Health, Money, Social Security, Medicare, Politics - Bulletin Today|website=AARP}} Various proposals have been floated for the use of the hospital's building,{{cite news | url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_664838.html | title=Zappala unveils proposal to convert Braddock hospital into classrooms, offices | first=Jeremy | last=Boren | newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date=2010-01-30 | access-date=2010-02-01}} including demolition and redevelopment that would be partially financed by UPMC.{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10033/1032898-100.stm | title=Onorato proposes new office building to replace UPMC Braddock | first=Karamagi | last=Rujumba | newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | location=Pittsburgh, PA | date=2010-02-02 | access-date=2010-02-02}} Following the closing, UPMC expanded operating hours of its Braddock Family Health Center, moved the Braddock Dental Center and the Family Care Connection of Children's Hospital to a new facility on Braddock Avenue, instituted a free shuttle service to neighboring facilities for people affected by the closing, and committed to paying Braddock $90,000 a year for five years in lieu of taxes.{{cite news | url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_665108.html | title=UPMC ensures health resources for the Braddock area | first=Tim | last=Puko | date=2010-02-01 | newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | access-date=2010-02-01}}

References