TO REACH US - Allegheny West Magazine

Heritage Valley NewsA recent report by The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) estimates thatHeritage Valley Health System accounted for approximately $802 million in spending in the local economy.Heritage Valley spends $325 million directly for staffing, goods and services and aided in another $477million of secondary spending within the local economy.Heritage Valley Health System employs approximately 4,300 individuals locally and supports anadditional 3,300 jobs in the region and the state. The HAP report also explains how Pennsylvania’shospitals annually contribute more than $89 billion (direct and secondary) to the state’s economy.“Heritage Valley is focused on our mission – to improve the health and well-being of all people in thecommunities we serve. Yet, as we work to further our mission, the local economy benefits greatly,” saidNorm Mitry, president and CEO of Heritage Valley. “With most of our employees living in our service areaand a majority of our purchases of goods and services made in the region, Heritage Valley contributessignificantly to the area’s economy.”Carolyn F. Scanlan, president and CEO of HAP said, “Investments in Pennsylvania’s hospitals meaninvestments in our patients, our workforce, and our economy. As lawmakers craft state and federalbudgets, they need to ensure adequate payments for hospitals to keep a critical economic stimulatorstrong.”On May 12, Heritage Valley Beaver opened a new Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit to assist patients inrecovery from a stroke, hip fractures, major surgery, and other debilitating events. The unit offers tenspacious private rooms and on-site physical, occupational and speech therapy.“Our primary goal is to help patients and their families adjust to changes in their lives and to learn theskills that are necessary to resume their daily activities,” said Ed Heinle, M.D., medical director of theunit.Patient rehabilitation programs are planned by an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation specialists,lead by a physiatrist, a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Patients participatein three hours of therapy per day. The goal of treatment is discharge either to home or to an assistedliving facility.Heritage Valley also offers an 11-bed rehabilitation unit at its Sewickley campus. The rehabilitation unitat Heritage Valley Sewickley opened in 1985.Regional EMS Units Gather to ReinforceImportance of Using Local ServicesABOVE: Emergency service units from around the region gathered for this photo at PittsburghInternational Airport last month. The activity was coordinated to reinforce the importance of the manyemergency services available in the western Pennsylvania area.June 2010 Allegheny West Magazine 25