Penguins, UPMC Team Up to Build World-Class Practice Facility

By Chuck Finder and Tim Betler

Mario Lemieux’s name, family and foundation dot the UPMC landscape already. There are Austin’s Playrooms in seven spots around the system, from McKeesportto Mageeto Mercyto Children’s, where there also stands a Lemieux Sibling Center. There are the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and the Lemieux Family Center plus the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers opened last December. And more.

So when the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins and UPMC joined together to build in Cranberry a practice facility and Sports Medicine clinic like nowhere else in North America, there was no other name to attach to it: The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

UPMC President and CEO Jeffrey A. Romoff and Executive Vice President Elizabeth B. Concordia stood alongside Lemieux, the Penguins’ co-owner and Hall of Famer, on Oct. 2 for the groundbreaking celebration – sticking engraved shovels bearing Lemieux stick-handles into the soil. Also digging it were: Penguins CEO David Morehouse, COO Travis Williams, General Manager Ray Shero and coach Dan Bylsma; UPMC Vice President of Operations Presbyterian Shadyside Albert Wright; developer Gary Sippel; and Cranberry Manager Jerry Andreeand Board of Supervisors chairman Bruce Mazzoni. 

Inside the Ads: Why Highmark's Latest is Misleading Consumers

Are You Prepared? Have a Plan Before Emergency Strikes

By Krista Connelly and Kathleen Criss, UPMC's director of Emergency Preparedness

Emergency situations can happen to anyone, at any time. The choice between preparedness and inaction can have serious consequences. September is National Preparedness Month, a time to make sure you are prepared for emergencies by learning your workplace's emergency procedures and developing a family emergency plan at home.

Did you know that flooding is the most common hazard in Pennsylvania? In a region known for its rivers, there is always the potential for flooding due to overflow. Many of our co-workers, neighbors, family and friends have been affected by recent flooding in our region. Floods and other natural disasters can happen quickly and without warning.

Make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for any potential emergency. Being prepared to sustain the well-being of your family for 72 hours can reduce the danger and distress you may face during an emergency. Do you have a plan in place should this happen to you at work or at home?

Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's for more tips and emergency planning information or these other sites:

• City of Pittsburgh Updates and Emergency Alerts 
• Allegheny County Emergency Services 
• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)

The Truth About the "Ad Wars" Between UPMC and Highmark

By Paul Wood

Lost in concerns over the so-called “ad wars” between UPMC and Highmark is the fact that virtually every person in this region, come the end of the UPMC-Highmark contracts in 2015, will have the choice of full, in-network access to UPMC. That’s right—despite Highmark’s dubious ad claims—no one will be “denied” access to UPMC.

How?

The people of western Pennsylvania will have more insurance choices than ever before to ensure the full, in-network access to UPMC they desire while their premium costs are being held down. And they’ll be living in one of the few cities in the country with two competing health systems that integrate both a provider network and an insurance company, the type of system that experts say can better coordinate care and lower costs.

So why can’t this promising new health care landscape in Pittsburgh be embraced and the ad madness we’re enduring be stopped?

Unfortunately, the answer is that Highmark refuses to give up on its fruitless quest of a UPMC contract. Undermining its own plan to “save” the West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS)—a plan approved by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and that is predicated entirely on the assumption of “no commercial contract” with UPMC in the future—Highmark is relentlessly pursuing by any means possible a new or extended contract with UPMC. 

What Highmark wants would be bad for the former WPAHS (now part of the Allegheny Health Network), bad for this community, and bad for UPMC and the more than 63,000 employees who have helped to create one of the nation’s top 10 health systems.

If you don’t believe us, read Highmark’s own filings with the PID. Highmark has said that expiration of the contracts with UPMC is essential to saving the near-bankrupt WPAHS and that it can save that system only by steering 41,000 inpatient admissions on an annual basis away from UPMC and independent community hospitals. [Read UPMC's Analysis of the PID Order Precluding a Contract With UPMC] 

To better understand what Highmark would propose now, look no further than central Pennsylvania. There, Highmark has a tiered system in which Geisinger, one of the finest integrated health care systems in the state and often cited by President Obama as a model for the nation, has been relegated—as solely determined by Highmark—not to the better value (supposedly lower cost and better quality) “enhanced” tier, but to a second, more expensive “standard” tier for patients trying to access Geisinger. It should be no surprise that UPMC cannot and will not sign such a tiering-and-steering contract, especially with a competitor intent on shoring up its hefty $2 billion plus investment in a competing health system. After all, Highmark wouldn’t be investing all this money if it didn’t intend to fill WPAHS beds with its own subscribers.

Highmark’s ads would have consumers believe that without a Highmark-UPMC contract, many people will be denied access to this region’s leading health system, UPMC. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, 85 percent of health care consumers in the region already have the option to access UPMC’s services in-network through governmental programs or insurance carriers other than Highmark. And based on our discussions with leading employers, most if not all of them will be offering insurance options other than Highmark alone when the commercial contracts between Highmark and UPMC expire at the end of 2014. This means that virtually the entire insurable population of western Pennsylvania will have the choice of full, in-network access to UPMC by January 2015. To the extent that any Highmark subscriber uses UPMC services out-of-network after 2014, Highmark itself will decide how the additional costs associated with that use will be shared with subscribers.

Instead of trying to compel a contract with UPMC that clearly conflicts with and undermines the plan that the PID approved for Highmark’s acquisition of WPAHS, it’s time for Highmark to move on to planning a predictable and patient-friendly transition period. We need to work together to ensure that consumers can, if they desire, easily change their insurers or their physicians. It’s also time for Highmark to join UPMC in reassuring seniors and other vulnerable populations that their full, in-network access to UPMC will be preserved, as UPMC and Highmark jointly advertised in December 2011 and January 2012.

Once Highmark decides to live up to its plans and assumptions submitted to and approved by the PID to save WPAHS,  the ad wars will cease, and we can all move on to enjoy the innovation and lower costs of this new era in Pittsburgh health care.   

Paul Wood is Vice President & Chief Communications Officer at UPMC.

Kicking the Habit: FAQs on Smoking Cessation

By Molly Skubak

While there has been a significant drop in the popularity of smoking., about 18 percent of Americans continue to smoke and it remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.  

Smoking can lead to 14 different types of cancer, including lung, pancreatic and stomach. Given these statistics, it’s not surprising that almost 70 percent of smokers report wanting to quit.

It’s not an easy habit to break, but it can be done.  Here, Timothy Cline, M.D.,a director at UPMC Health Plan and a leading smoking cessation expert, answers questions about how and why smokers can kick the habit. 

What are the benefits of smoking cessation?

Some people think they’ve smoked for so long that quitting now is pointless. However, the health benefits of quitting begin almost immediately, regardless of how long they have been smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, within 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure will drop. You’ll be breathing easier as early as one month after quitting thanks to decreased coughing and shortness of breath. Soon after quitting, you also are likely to discover that food tastes better, and you have more energy to enjoy physical activities. One year of being smoke free means your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s. Everyone who gives up cigarettes can experience these benefits, no matter how long they’ve been smoking, and they only increase as you spend more time smoke-free.

Are e-cigarettes a healthy alternative to regular cigarettes? What about light or organic cigarettes?

Many people switch to light, natural or electronic cigarettes because they think these are safe alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Unfortunately, while light and organic cigarettes definitely sound friendlier, they do not present a lower risk for disease than regular cigarettes and have been found to be just as harmful. As for e-cigarettes, the FDA hasn’t studied them enough to know just how harmful they may be, but users do in fact inhale toxins when smoking them. Rather than switching to these types of cigarettes, users aiming to make a healthy change in their smoking habits should focus on quitting altogether.

I’ve been hearing a lot about third-hand smoke. What is it?

Smoking can lead to serious health issues and premature death. Even breathing in second-hand smoke — smoke from someone else’s cigarette — can cause you serious harm. What many people don’t know, though, is that even after a cigarette is rubbed out or you distance yourself from someone smoking, toxins from the smoke linger on all the surfaces exposed to tobacco smoke. That means if you stand next to someone smoking, toxic residues will cling to you and your clothes long after you’ve left the smoky area and can be transferred to anyone or anything you come in contact with.  A recent study at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory found that some of the toxins in third-hand smoke can damage the DNA inside human cells, which can lead to the development of cancerous tumors in the body.

Fact or Fiction: Is it common for individuals to gain weight after quitting smoking?

Fear of weight gain is one of the most common reasons smokers hesitate to kick the habit, but giving up smoking doesn’t have to mean picking up pounds. With a nutritious diet and regular exercise, excessive weight gain is avoidable. Some experts recommend developing these healthy habits before quitting so they are already formed when it’s time to quit. And while many people who quit smoking do gain a few pounds (especially within the first few months of quitting), the risks associated with this slight increase are not nearly as threatening as those associated with smoking.

To learn more about cigarette smoke and smoking cessation, visit the UPMC Health Plan.

Hill District Y Gets Kid-Friendly, Health-Education Kiosk with Help From UPMC

London Brooks plays the “Hilltop Memory” game on the new touch-screen kiosk at the Thelma Lovette YMCA. 

By Andréa Stanford

Last week, members of UPMC’s Technology Development Center(TDC) and Pittsburgh CONNECTS Hilltop Computer Center debuted a new touch-screen computer kiosk at the Thelma Lovette YMCA in the city’s Hill District. The kiosk, built mostly by the Y’s youth last summer, features a variety of user-friendly, health-education programs emphasizing the importance of nutrition and exercise.

The Pittsburgh CONNECTS Hilltop Computer Center received a grant from Google to build the kiosk, which fosters STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives for youth within the community.

Led by Casey Helfrich, chief architect at the TDC, 24 UPMC employees stepped up to volunteer hundreds of hours of time to develop and install health-centered educational applications for the kiosk. Over the course of a month, software engineers worked alongside pediatric nurses, child educators and others from UPMC to develop or adapt interactive health and wellness programs that could be used on the kiosk. 

The final product came to life as campers from UPMC and Thelma Lovette YMCA Health Career Summer Camp huddled around the kiosk to play competitive games, including “Hilltop Memory," where children sharpened their memory skills to match fitness-related images to garner top scores. 

“The technology is really cool. When it comes to touchscreen it’s pretty easy,” said camper Shatia Knight, an avid user of touchscreen mobile devices.

Nicolas Jaramillo, program director of the Pittsburgh CONNECTS Hilltop Computer Center and leader of the organization’s technology initiative, reflected on the progression of the program as he watched several campers interact with the kiosk. “This really was an opportunity to build something out of nothing. It was great to come together to create something that represents the community and creates a pathway for further technological growth,” he said.

Temika Green, program coordinator for the Thelma Lovette YMCA, echoed the significance of the community partnership, reiterating that the technology was created by the community and for the community.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn from the health and wellness resources that the kiosk has to offer and to be exposed to this technology,” she said.

The kiosk will be available for use in the lobby of the Thelma Lovette YMCA for the duration of the summer.

UPMC East Celebrates Its First Year; Looks Ahead To Its Future

By Alexandra Salerno

For a hospital that is just a year old, East has already made an enormous impact.

Today marks the first anniversary of its July 2, 2012 opening. Built to service the growing needs of suburbs east of Pittsburgh, East is one of only two UPMC hospitals built entirely from scratch. The design and construction of the building is aimed to maximize operational and energy efficiency. The Palace Inn, located on site before East, was completely recycled to help build the hospital. Enhancements to the local community include storm water management and roadway improvements.

East is the right-sized community hospital for the area.  It has 156 private patient rooms, seven operating rooms, 22 emergency room treatment bays, two endoscopy rooms and two interventional catheterization labs.

With high patient satisfaction ratings and an already strong 75 percent occupancy rate, East is a thriving member of the UPMC integrated system. According to Mark Sevco, president of UPMC East, the hospital’s connection to UPMC is an invaluable strength.

“We are connected with UPMC, and that’s a very strong asset,” Sevco said. “We have access to world class physicians within seconds, and can coordinate and transfer as needed whether it is to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh because of a pediatric patient’s needs or Magee-Womens Hospital because of a specific women’s health need. That is a very positive thing.”

Yet, East succeeds on its own through the ability to create the ideal patient experience in a community hospital setting on behalf of UPMC in the eastern suburbs. According to Sevco, the people that work at East make this happen every day.

“The associates who work at UPMC East have really excelled to embrace their opportunity to make a difference for patients,” Sevco said. “There have been so many stories shared with us and our team and a lot of testimonials about our staff members who have gone above and beyond to care for our patients. It is fun to be a part of a culture where everybody is focused to create the ideal patient experience.”

Part of that experience includes East’s new hospitalist program that began yesterday.

“We have had so many patients come through the Emergency Department whose physician is not on staff at UPMC East,” Sevco said. “This led us to the development of a hospitalist program which we just kicked off.”

East hired six full-time hospitalists, a term used to describe doctors who are specialized in the care of patients in the hospital. Because many patients admitted to a hospital do not normally have their primary care physician on staff in the hospital, hospitalists provide convenience and peace of mind during an inpatient stay.

UPMC also collaborated with community leaders to implement a community outreach program titled “Alive and Well.” The program includes monthly events such as screenings and lectures for patients and visitors to attend to learn about health and wellness. It also connects patients with healthcare resources.

“Keeping our community healthy is important to us,” Sevco said.

According to Sevco, after only a year of operation, East’s future is very bright.

“Our future is focused around our medical staff,” he said. “We hope to expand on our surgical programs, and we expect the volume will increase. Our volume has been very strong already. We are going to see 38,000 patients through the Emergency Department in our first year of opening. I think the future holds higher volume, greater access and a medical staff that will continue to expand its services and capabilities that will continue to expand for the community.”