A Fine Point

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UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow

That crashing sound you just heard was UPMC's argument to close its latest hospital falling to pieces on Braddock Avenue.

Executives of the health-care system have maintained that they decided to shut down UPMC Braddock not because it was losing money but because it was underutilized. Yet a report Saturday by Post-Gazette staff writer Steve Twedt showed that recent utilization numbers for the hospital were higher than six others in Allegheny County.

Based on UPMC's own reports, Braddock's occupancy rate in 2007-08 was 72.4 percent -- better than UPMC Mercy, West Penn, Ohio Valley, Heritage Valley in Sewickley, Alle-Kiski and West Penn Forbes Regional. In fact, Braddock's occupancy rate, as reported in data collected by the state Department of Health, was only a hair below the county average, 73.7 percent.

UPMC cautions, however, that Braddock's use rates include behavioral health beds for drug and alcohol, sober living and detoxification programs. The health system says a better index of a hospital's health is medical/surgical utilization.

Toward that point, UPMC has been saying since it announced the closing last month that four out of five Braddock-area residents get their medical/surgical care at facilities other than UPMC Braddock. For that calculation it defines the Braddock community as six ZIP codes surrounding the hospital: 15035, 15104, 15112, 15120, 15145 and 15148.

That strikes us as a convenient and arbitrary zone that can be designed to support a multitude of arguments. It also presupposes that residents of a community are fed by their very geography into the hospital nearest their home.

For late-night stitches in the emergency room? Maybe. For cancer treatment or to deliver a baby. No way. And UPMC knows better.

What's become more evident, in the aftermath of UPMC's Braddock decision, is that the successful health-care giant is having a hard time defending its retreat from a hard-bitten community that depended on it for more things than medical care.

Profit-driven companies make calculated choices to protect the bottom line. Nonprofit institutions, which receive tax exemptions in exchange for services to the community, are bound by a higher call.

 

Posted Nov 06 2009, 05:00 AM by Susan Mannella

Comments

kevin morris wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 6:22 AM

I realize some readers of the PG may not always read Ruth Ann Dailey's columns because she tends to have a conservative slant, but she wrote a nice companion piece to this editorial on Monday which gives a little more detail on how the numbers released by UPMC are skewed.

As we all know, if you want to lie statistics can always be bent for your deception.  

GBRetired wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 7:31 AM

The closure of Braddock Hospital is purely a profit move. The occupancy rate of the facility--for any type of purpose--indicates that they are collecting fees per occupied bed. UPMC will twist the numbers however needed to close this facility and switch patients to their new suburban Monroeville Hospital. After all, who would go to Braddock when a brand spanking new (but needless) hospital is waiting for you in suburbia. This is a case for "Liars figure and figures do lie"!

regis wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 8:34 AM

Unbridled monopoly capitalism.  Buy up your competitor's facilities, then close them.  Then bellow about how important you are to the community.

St. John's Hospital, Divine Providence Hospital, St. Francis' Hospital.....

kevin morris wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 9:08 AM

Regis, you're right, Bill Gates would be proud.

I must give the PG its due for writing this even though UPMC is a huge advertising client in this region.

Mermaid wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 9:50 AM

UPMC also tried to close the only treatment facility for pregnant drug addicts in the area because it wasn't turning a profit -- the House of Hope in ... wait for it ... North Braddock.

www.post-gazette.com/.../927860-52.stm

Far from being the community-oriented non-profit that they claim to be, UPMC is systematically pulling out of poor communities.  Meanwhile, they're planning a $250 million hospital in Monroeville, a community that's already well served by Forbes Regional Hospital.  I'm sure that their top executives are superbly compensated for making these kinds of decisions.

Absolutely disgusting.

my opinion wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 10:40 AM

Just wondering if there might be a ligitimate reason to close this hospital.  Above I see opinions, accuasations, name calling, etc.  Does anyone have any hard facts to present?  I'm curious since we are in the middle of a healthcare debate on costs.  I don't live anywhere near this hospital so I don't know any facts, just asking.

swaybar wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 11:31 AM

Kevin - You're right about Dailey's column.  I had to look twice at the byline to make sure it was actually her's.  

Titan Lee wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 11:58 AM

What better opportunity for the Libs on this site to put your words into action.

Buy the place.

Make an offer of $20,000,000.  You should only need about $10,000,000 of your own money to get a mortgage.  Not only can you keep it open, you can then show that medical treatment can be given for free or take only what medicaid will pay you. The only bottom line that matters is whether you've shown you care.

We're all proud of you.  We'll look for the Grand Opening sign.

kevin morris wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 1:33 PM

My opinion, the Ruth Ann piece has more of the figures. You have more knowledge than most of us about how this works. Braddock is really, really poor, and I would bet a very large percentage of their care ends up being either charity or at Medicaid or  Medicare reimbursement rates.

Titan, I'm only $9,999,900 short or that $10M. Can you direct me to an unscrupulous banker? I knew you could. :)

GBRetired wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 4:41 PM

Let me spell this out in simple UPMC financial terms:

Braddock Hospital's three primary service areas:

Braddock--67% African American

                 30% caucasian

                 $18,473 medial household income (MHA)

Rankin.......69% African American

                 30% Caucasian

                 $13,862 MHA

No. Bradd..62% caucasian

                 35% African American

                 $24,335 MHA

Three primary service areas of their new Monroeville hospital:

Monroeville...86% Caucasian

                      8% African American

                    $44,653 MHA

Plum Boro.....96% caucasian

                      3% African American

                    $48,336 MHA

Churchill........89% caucasian

                      8% African American

                    $$67,321 MHA

Source: 2000 census---why would there be any doubt why UPMC is dumping Braddock for Suburbia other than pure profit! They can spin the data any way they like, but greed still seems to surface first.

kevin morris wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Sat, Nov 7 2009 10:13 AM

Once again, GB, your info illuminates.

my opinion wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Sat, Nov 7 2009 6:25 PM

GBR

I noticed your stats were broken down by race.  Is that the issue as you see it?

GBRetired wrote re: UPMC's call: The under-use claim at Braddock rings hollow
on Sat, Nov 7 2009 9:19 PM

UPMC has minimal concern about race. They do, however, have maximm concern about financial status. UPMC has now shuttered Aliquippa Hospital, South Side Hospital as well as Braddock Hospital. I'd suggest a review of the median household income for these respective areas to garner a better understanding as to why UPMC made their decisions. UPMC does not discriminate based upon the color of your skin, but the do seem to be concerned about the color of your money!