UPMC Braddock
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
At the time of the closure, UPMC indicated that 75% percent of UPMC Braddock's 600 employees had transferred to other UPMC jobs. Various proposals have been floated for the use of the hospital's building, including demolition and redevelopment that would be partially financed by UPMC. 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.
Braddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was a full-service hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
that had served over 25 Monongahela Valley
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
communities as a primary care facility for the Steel Valley
Steel Valley (Pittsburgh)
The Steel Valley is the area of post-industrial and industrial concentration along the upper Ohio River valley as well as the Monongahela River all the way to the West Virginia border. It has also has included most of the Allegheny River, Beaver River and Youghiogheny River valleys...
and areas part of the Woodland Hills School District
Woodland Hills School District
Woodland Hills School District is a public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, serving twelve municipalities in the Pittsburgh area; Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and...
. Opened in 1906, it was merged into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
, 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. However, UPMC's figures and the extent of the hospital's underutilization were disputed. 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. Also during this period, a community activist group, Save Our Community Hospital, was formed to attempt to stop or delay the hospital's closure. Numerous protests and demonstrations were held to protest the closing, including a "Zombie" protest march to UPMC's coporate headquarters. 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. Various proposals have been floated for the use of the hospital's building, including demolition and redevelopment that would be partially financed by UPMC. 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
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, a hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is the only hospital in southwestern Pennsylvania dedicated solely to the care of infants, children and young adults. Care is provided by more than 700 board-certified pediatricians and pediatric...
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.