June 12 Affiliation Celebration

‘The Future Is Bright, There Is Much Good to Come’

On June 12, employees, medical staff, and community leaders joined to celebrate the becoming of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.

Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO of UPMC, applauded our leaders who never wavered in belief that Washington Health System would join UPMC.

“It’s been clear how deeply you care about your employees and your community,” said Leslie. “Together, we will carry on that culture of caring in our next chapters as UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.”

Numerous media outlets shared the monumental news of the benefits that will come from our affiliation, including: Marty Griffin of KDKA Radio, KDKA-TV, Washington Observer-Reporter, Pittsburgh Business Times, WPXI-TV, and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Watch a recording of the affiliation celebration press conference to hear from Leslie Davis, President and CEO, UPMC; Brook Ward, President, UPMC Washington; John Surma, chairperson, UPMC board of directors; John Six, MD, vice president of Medical Affairs, UPMC Washington; Mayor JoJo Burgess, mayor of Washington, Pa.; and Dan Miller, chairperson, UPMC Washington board of directors.

‘UPMC Brought Quality Health Care from the Big City to Small Town Living’

At the press conference, Mayor JoJo Burgess described a powerful, personal account of the life-changing difference of UPMC’s care.

His father nearly lost his life. He was on a ventilator at a non-UPMC hospital and needed to be urgently transferred to UPMC for a higher level of care. By the time it took Mayor Burgess to drive from Washington to Pittsburgh, his father was off the vent and sitting up in bed eating Jello.

“UPMC will always be special to me,” Mayor Burgess said. “We got the right outcome we needed for our residents. I am so happy to have UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.”

‘This Will Uphold and Protect a Healthy Future for This Community’

Washington Health System and UPMC Complete Affiliation
Preserving health care and protecting jobs across Washington and Greene counties

WASHINGTON, Pa., June 1, 2024 – Washington Health System is pleased to announce it has officially joined UPMC, becoming UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene.

In June of 2023, the Boards of Directors of Washington Health System (WHS) and UPMC announced an affiliation agreement between the two entities that would integrate WHS into the UPMC system. One year later, on June 1, 2024, that affiliation became official, ensuring a future of excellent patient care for residents of Washington, Greene and surrounding counties.

“We are elated that the affiliation is complete and look forward to starting a new chapter of collaboration with UPMC,” said Brook Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. “This affiliation protects the vitality of an essential community asset and solidifies a healthy future for Washington and Greene counties for generations to come.”

UPMC has committed to invest at least $300 million over 10 years to enhance clinical services and upgrade facilities at UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. These investments by UPMC, combined with contributions the WHS Foundation has made and will continue to make, ensures UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene can provide state-of-the-art health care for local residents for years to come and maintain its position as one of the largest employers in Washington and Greene counties.

“Our focus is on ensuring residents have access to life-saving services and advanced care that is sustainable into the future and preserving jobs of our talented health care workers,” said Ward. “The community is gaining close-to-home access to the nationally recognized, high-specialty care of UPMC. Our local capabilities will expand, creating a destination for world-class care in southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Clinical collaborations between WHS and UPMC for oncology (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center joint venture), pediatric specialties (UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh), women’s health (UPMC Magee-Womens) and heart and vascular care (UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute), have been in place for more than a decade, providing care for more than 10,000 patients annually. UPMC will continue to invest in and advance key services locally, including inpatient and emergency care, women’s health, cardiology, surgical services, diagnostics, primary care and specialty and outpatient services.

“UPMC has a long, successful track record of affiliations with like-minded organizations. We know how essential these hospitals are to this region to preserve needed health care services and livelihoods of thousands touched by them, and we are thrilled to welcome UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene to UPMC,” said Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO of UPMC.

UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene will maintain a local Board of Directors consisting of 11 legacy WHS board members and five newly appointed members from UPMC.

The affiliation does not affect community members’ in-network access to WHS hospitals or doctors. UPMC Washington, UPMC Greene and their affiliated outpatient facilities will continue to honor the contracts that are in place with regional and national insurers.

A formal celebration of the affiliation and a press conference will be announced in the coming days.

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About UPMC

UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer committed to delivering exceptional, people-centered care, and community services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is shaping the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. Dedicated to advancing the well-being of our diverse communities, we provide more than $1 billion every year in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Our 100,000 employees — including more than 5,000 physicians — care for patients across 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members with a focus on providing the highest-quality care at the most affordable price. To learn more, visit UPMC.com.