| INTRODUCTION TO AHN |
ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK (AHN), BASED IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, IS A TAX-EXEMPT, PATIENT-CENTERED AND PHYSICIAN-LED ACADEMIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES CHARITABLE CARE AND HIGH-QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO PATIENTS FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE ADJACENT REGIONS OF OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA, NEW YORK AND MARYLAND. AHN COMPRISES 13 HOSPITALS AND MORE THAN 300 HEALTHCARE SITES, INCLUDING FIVE HEALTH + WELLNESS PAVILIONS, SURGICAL CENTERS AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS; A RESEARCH INSTITUTE; MORE THAN 2,500 EMPLOYED AND AFFILIATED PHYSICIANS; APPROXIMATELY 25,000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES; 1,000 VOLUNTEERS; A GROUP PURCHASING ORGANIZATION; AND A COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES. THE NETWORK'S HOSPITALS INCLUDE ONE QUATERNARY ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER (ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PITTSBURGH), EIGHT TERTIARY/COMMUNITY HOSPITALS THAT PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF GENERAL AND ADVANCED CLINICAL SERVICES (ALLEGHENY VALLEY HOSPITAL, NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA; CANONSBURG HOSPITAL, CANONSBURG, PA; FORBES HOSPITAL, MONROEVILLE, PA; GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER, GROVE CITY, PA; JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, JEFFERSON HILLS, PA; SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL, ERIE, PA; WEST PENN HOSPITAL, PITTSBURGH, PA; AND WESTFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, WESTFIELD, NY.), AND FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALS (AHN HEMPFIELD IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY; AHN McCANDLESS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY; AHN HARMAR IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY; AND AHN BRENTWOOD IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY). AHN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013, BUT ITS MEMBER HOSPITALS SHARE LEGACIES OF CHARITABLE CARE THAT DATE BACK MORE THAN 170 YEARS (WEST PENN HOSPITAL WAS CHARTERED IN 1848). AHN WAS FORMED TO ACT AS THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE HOSPITALS OF THE WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. (WPAHS), AS WELL AS JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL AND WESTFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. HIGHMARK HEALTH (HH), IN TURN, SERVES AS THE ULTIMATE PARENT OF AHN AND ITS AFFILIATES. IN 2020, THE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS OF AHN TOGETHER REPORTED MORE THAN 112,000 PATIENT DISCHARGES AND OBSERVATIONS, LOGGED MORE THAN 260,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND DELIVERED NEARLY 8,000 BABIES; ITS PHYSICIANS SAW MORE THAN 3 MILLION PATIENTS. ANCHORED BY NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CLINICAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF BONE AND JOINT CARE, SPORTS MEDICINE, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, NEUROSURGERY AND NEUROLOGY, WOMEN'S HEALTH, CANCER, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, BARIATRIC AND METABOLIC DISEASE, AHN PROVIDES A COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC, MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE ACROSS ALL MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE, TRAUMA AND BURN CARE, GENERAL SURGERY, DIABETES, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, CRITICAL CARE, DIGESTIVE DISEASES, MEN'S HEALTH/UROLOGY, LUNG AND ESOPHAGEAL DISEASES AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. AHN ALSO PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE TRAINING OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS BY OFFERING FOUR DOZEN GRADUATE MEDICAL PROGRAMS, AND BY MAINTAINING AFFILIATIONS WITH THREE MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND TWO NURSING SCHOOLS. THE NETWORK'S HOSPITALS SERVE AS CLINICAL CAMPUSES FOR THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY AND THE LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (LECOM). NEARLY 250 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED EACH YEAR IN NURSING PROGRAMS AT THE WEST PENN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING AND THE CITIZENS SCHOOL OF NURSING IN NATRONA HEIGHTS, AND ABOUT 450 MEDICAL RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS RECEIVE ADVANCED TRAINING ON STAFF AT AHN HOSPITALS. AHN'S PLAN IS TO TRANSFORM THE CURRENT MODEL OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BY ENCOURAGING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITHIN AHN, WHETHER HOSPITALS OR PHYSICIANS, TO USE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE VENUE FOR CARE, ADHERE TO THE HIGHEST, EVIDENCE-BASED STANDARDS OF CARE, AND DELIVER SUPERIOR OUTCOMES BY REDUCING UNNECESSARY READMISSIONS AND HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS. PROVIDING COST-EFFICIENT, CONVENIENTLY ACCESSED CARE DELIVERS VALUE AND BENEFIT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, PARTNER HEALTH CARRIERS, AREA BUSINESSES, AND MOST OF ALL TO AHN'S PATIENTS. THE GOAL OF AHN IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN ITS COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING SAFE, COMPASSIONATE, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE TO ALL WHO SEEK IT, REGARDLESS OF A PATIENT'S RACE, CREED, GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, OR ABILITY TO PAY. MISSION AND VISION AHN'S MISSION, WHICH IS SHARED BY ITS PARENT COMPANY HIGHMARK HEALTH, IS TO CREATE A REMARKABLE HEALTH EXPERIENCE, FREEING PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST. OUR VISION IS A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE EMBRACES HEALTH. |
| COMMUNITY BENEFITS |
AHN AND ITS TAX-EXEMPT SUBSIDIARY FACILITIES SUPPORT A BROAD ARRAY OF CHARITABLE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED HEALTH CARE; SPONSORING COMMUNITY EVENTS (HEALTH FAIRS, CANCER SCREENINGS, WALKS, EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, SUPPORT GROUPS); AND MAKING CHARITABLE DONATIONS. THE SERVICES BENEFIT CHILDREN AND TEENS, ADULTS AND SENIORS, PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A TOTAL ACCOUNT OF ALL OF AHN'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES, BUT A SAMPLING OF AHN'S MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, AND TO ALL WHO SEEK AHN'S CARE: AIDS-FREE PITTSBURGH: IN 2020, AIDS FREE PITTSBURGH (AFP) RECEIVED FUNDING COMMITMENTS FROM AHN TO SUPPORT ITS WORK TOWARDS ENDING THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY DURING 2021-2025. AUNT BERTHA: ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK PARTNERED WITH AUNT BERTHA TO PROVIDE A FREE RESOURCE TOOL FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING FOOD, HOUSING OR OTHER CRISES DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. THE AUNT BERTHA DIRECTORY CONTAINS GEOGRAPHIC-SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. ONLINE USERS WILL ONLY NEED TO ENTER THEIR ZIP CODE, FOLLOWED BY APPLICATION OF FILTERS TO ENCOMPASS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS, TO ACCESS LOCAL OPTIONS. THE SERVICE IS FREE AND HAS NO INCOME CONSTRAINTS FOR USERS. AUNT BERTHA'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT ALL PEOPLE IN NEED AND THE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THEM WITH DIGNITY AND EASE. THE ONLINE TOOL ALLOWS USERS TO FIND NEARBY CBOS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS SOCIAL SERVICE OPTIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANKS TO AUNT BERTHA, NON-PROFITS HAVE AN EASIER TIME COORDINATING THEIR EFFORTS, WHILE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN INTEGRATE SOCIAL CARE INTO THEIR WORK MORE APPROPRIATELY. BRADDOCK URGENT CARE: AHN AND HH OPERATE THE AHN URGENT CARE CENTER, SUBSIDIZING HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR THE UNDERSERVED BRADDOCK, PA., COMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING CARE ON A CHARITABLE BASIS AND SERVING A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PATIENTS. AHN HAS LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, INTENDED TO EDUCATE AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR BRADDOCK-AREA RESIDENTS IN FOUR KEY AREAS: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS; CANCER, PARTICULARLY OF THE PROSTATE, LUNG, COLON OR BREAST; CHRONIC DISEASE, WITH A FOCUS ON ASTHMA AND DIABETES, AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE PREVENTION. THE AHN URGENT CARE CENTER WAS BUILT FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF BRADDOCK'S COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, WHICH HAD BEEN THE PRIMARY JOBS SOURCE AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS POINT FOR BRADDOCK RESIDENTS. THE AHN URGENT CARE CENTER IS STAFFED BY BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS, REGISTERED NURSES, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS AND RADIOLOGY TECHNICIANS, AND EQUIPPED WITH 12 PATIENT EXAM ROOMS AND DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES SUCH AS X-RAY IMAGING AND BLOOD WORK. CENTER FOR INCLUSION HEALTH: AHN'S CENTER FOR INCLUSION HEALTH SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED PATIENTS AND POPULATIONS TO ACCESS CARE, HELPING TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S HEALTH WHILE REDUCING COSTS. THE CENTER HOUSES PROGRAMS FOR ADDICTION MEDICINE; HOMELESS HEALTH CARE; POSITIVE (HIV) HEALTH CLINIC; FOOD INSECURITY; IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE HEALTH; AND TRANSGENDER HEALTH CARE, AMONG OTHER PROGRAMS. THE CENTER PROVIDES ITS PATIENT POPULATIONS WITH PRIMARY CARE ACCESS; A SUPPORT STAFF THAT INCLUDES PHYSICIANS, NURSES, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS AND PATIENT ADVOCATES; SPECIALIZED HIV CARE; MEDICATION ADHERENCE COUNSELING AND PHARMACY SUPPORT; GYNECOLOGIC CARE; NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELING BY A REGISTERED DIETITIAN; SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS; MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT, COUNSELING AND PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT; AND CASE-MANAGEMENT FOR NON-MEDICAL NEEDS. THE STAFF ASSISTS WITH FINANCIAL OR SOCIAL ISSUES THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL CARE. THE CENTER INCLUDES AHN'S STREET MEDICINE AND HOMELESS HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR LIVING IN UNSTABLE HOUSING SITUATIONS OFTEN FIND IT HARD TO GET ROUTINE HEALTH CARE THAT IS SENSITIVE AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. AHN'S HOMELESS HEALTH CARE SERVICES REACH PEOPLE BY PROVIDING CARE WHEREVER THEY ARE: AT HOMELESS SHELTERS, ON THE STREETS, IN HOSPITALS, AND AT OTHER LOCATIONS. AHN'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, AND POOR HEALTH THROUGH TRUSTING, RESPECTFUL, AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE RELATIONSHIPS. PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, INCLUDING STREET MEDICINE, AT HOMELESS CAMPS, AT HOMELESS SHELTERS, AND "BRIDGE" SERVICES FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A RECENT ILLNESS, SURGERY, OR HOSPITALIZATION. CENTER ALSO HOUSES A NEW AHN PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS AND URBAN POVERTY MEDICINE. THE PROGRAM PUTS TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER HELPERS ON THE STREETS BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 5 P.M. IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE AHN IS A 'FIRST-RESPONDER' TEAM THAT RESPONDS WITH CITY POLICE TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE THAT INVOLVE THE HOMELESS, PEOPLE IN MENTAL CRISIS OR THOSE WHO HAVE OVERDOSED ON DRUGS, IN NONVIOLENT AND NONDANGEROUS SITUATIONS. CHARITY CARE: TOGETHER AS AN ENTERPRISE, AHN PROVIDED MORE THAN $174 MILLION IN CHARITY AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE IN 2020. CHILL: THE CHILL PROJECT USES MINDFULNESS-BASED EXERCISES TO EQUIP STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS WITH A COMMON LANGUAGE AND UNIVERSAL SKILLS TO IDENTIFY, DISCUSS, AND REACT POSITIVELY TO STRESS. SCHOOL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF STRESS, WHETHER ONE IS TAKING CLASSES, TEACHING, OR PARENTING A STUDENT. NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO STRESS CREATE A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO LEARNING AND GROWTH. THE CHILL PROJECT FEATURES DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS, A CALMING SPACE, AND REGULAR INSTRUCTION TO HELP EVERY MEMBER OF A SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY BETTER HANDLE PRESSURE AND ANXIETY. THE PROJECT STARTED IN BALDWIN-WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS HAVE EXPERIENCED: REDUCED NUMBER OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCIDENTS FOR STUDENTS, LIKE CHRONIC ABSENCE, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, DROPPING OUT, AND FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS; INCREASED ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SENSE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS INCREASED WELL-BEING FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS; ENHANCED MINDFUL AWARENESS AND RESILIENCY ACROSS THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS IN THE CHILL PROJECT HAVE ACCESS TO: ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING; SUPPORT GROUPS; MEDICATION MANAGEMENT; SCHOOL-BASED OUTPATIENT SERVICES; SCHOOL-WIDE PREVENTIVE SERVICES; PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES; A SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM AND CLASSROOM CONSULTATIONS; EXERCISES AND CONSULTATIONS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR STUDENT ATHLETES. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT: IN 2018, AS REQUIRED BY THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AHN EMBARKED ON ANOTHER COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA), BUILDING UPON THE HOSPITALS' PREVIOUS CHNAS CONDUCTED IN 2013 AND 2015. AHN'S 2018 CHNA INCLUDED THE EIGHT HOSPITALS THAT WERE PART OF THE HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP AT THAT TIME. GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER CONDUCTED ITS OWN CHNA IN 2018 AS OUTLINED IN SCHEDULE H. AHN'S NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALS BEGAN OPERATIONS IN 2020. |
| THE RESULTS OF THE CHNA ENABLE AHN AND ITS EIGHT HOSPITALS, ALONG |
WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND PROVIDERS, TO SET PRIORITIES, DEVELOP INTERVENTIONS, AND DIRECT RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE LIVING IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK. THE CHNA PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR AHN'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS; THE CHNA IDENTIFIES NEEDS WITHIN EACH OF AHN'S HOSPITAL COMMUNITIES AND ENABLES AHN TO WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS IN A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT, DIRECTING SYSTEM-WIDE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND OUTCOMES AND REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES THROUGHOUT AHN'S SERVICE FOOTPRINT. THE CHNA INITIATIVE ALIGNS WITH ONGOING COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES IN AHN'S LOCAL HOSPITAL SERVICE AREAS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS DIRECTED BY THE ALLEGHENY AND ERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS; WHERE APPLICABLE, AHN HAS ALIGNED PRIORITIES AND PLANNING WITH THESE LOCAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO FOSTER COLLABORATION IN COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT. COMMUNITY SUPPORT, EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS: THROUGHOUT 2020, AHN PROVIDED OVER $1 MILLION IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY AHN. COVID-19 RESPONSE: IN 2020, AS PART OF ITS UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, AHN DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY-FACING HEALTH PROGRAMS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND, LATER, TO VACCINATE THE PUBLIC. IN 2020, THOSE PROGRAMS INCLUDED: MOBILE COVID-19 TESTING CLINICS, INCLUDING CLINICS FOCUSING ON MINORITY POPULATIONS AND TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; DONATING PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS MASKS) TO AREA EMS ORGANIZATIONS; DEVELOPING AND MANUFACTURING COVID-19 TEST-KITS IN HOUSE TO CONFRONT THE INITIAL TESTING SHORTAGE. FOR EXAMPLE: - ON MARCH 18, 2020, AHN ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF FOUR DRIVE-UP COLLECTION SITES FOR COVID-19 TESTING ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA; THREE SITES ARE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, AND ONE IS IN ERIE COUNTY. THE SITES WERE MEANT TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH "CLOSE-TO-HOME" TESTING OPTIONS, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL INTO A CENTRAL DOWNTOWN COLLECTION LOCATION. IN APRIL 2020, AHN ADDED TWO-MORE DRIVE-UP TESTING LOCATIONS, ONE IN BRADDOCK AND ONE ON PITTSBURGH'S NORTH SIDE. ANOTHER WAS LATER ADDED IN THE ALLE-KISKI VALLEY, AND IN MAY 2020, AHN EXPANDED THE DRIVE-UP PROGRAM TO ACCOMMODATE NON-AHN AND NON-HIGHMARK PATIENTS AND MEMBERS. - ON MARCH 22, 2020, AHN, HH AND MSA SAFETY INC. SECURED A SHIPMENT OF 65,000 N95 PROTECTIVE MASKS FOR THE PITTSBURGH REGION; AHN'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER WORKED WITH REGIONAL HEALTH LEADERS TO DEVELOP A DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY FOR THE MASKS, FOR BOTH CARE FACILITY-BASED PROVIDERS AS WELL AS FIRST RESPONDERS AND EMS. - ON MARCH 22, 2020, ALL AHN PCPS AND SPECIALISTS BEGAN PROACTIVELY TO TRANSITION UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS TO VIDEO VISITS. THE NETWORK EXPANDED THE CLINICAL TEAM SUPPORTING THE VIDEO VISIT INITIATIVE AS WELL AS ITS TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED VIDEO VISIT VOLUME. BY THE END OF 2020, AHN HAD CARRIED OUT NEARLY 500,000 TELEMEDICINE OR VIRTUAL ENCOUNTERS, REPRESENTING A 4,000% INCREASE OVER 2019. ABOUT 25% OF ALL AMBULATORY VOLUME FOR THE YEAR WAS VIRTUAL (BY PHONE OR BY VIDEO). 44% OF TELE ENCOUNTERS WERE IN PRIMARY CARE; PSYCHIATRY ACCOUNTED FOR 12% AND CVI FOR 6%. VIRTUAL URGENT CARE ACCOUNTED FOR 30,000 ENCOUNTERS, ALLOWING PATIENTS TO BE CARED FOR EFFECTIVELY AND CONVENIENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. - ON APRIL 2, 2020, AHN AND HH LAUNCHED A COVID-19 TEST KIT PRODUCTION CENTER AT THE PAP AUDITORIUM, WITH A GOAL OF CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TEST KITS IN-HOUSE, SO THAT PATIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY COULD HAVE MORE CONVENIENT ACCESS TO TESTS. IN ALL, AHN AND HH VOLUNTEERS ASSEMBLED 137,000 COVID TEST KITS. - IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2020, AHN ANNOUNCED A NEW PROCEDURE FOR STERILIZING DISPOSABLE N95 MASKS, SO THAT THEY CAN BE REUSED BY CAREGIVERS. THE NOVEL PROCESS ALLOWED AHN TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF ITS RESPIRATOR MASKS, WHICH WERE IN SCARCE SUPPLY DUE TO PRODUCT CONSTRAINTS, ALLOWING AHN TO CARE FOR PATIENTS MORE EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY. - ON APRIL 16, 2020, AHN ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS PROCURING 10,000 INDUSTRIAL-GRADE P100 RESPIRATOR MASKS FROM MSA SAFETY. THESE MASKS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE, AND CAN BE WORN AGAIN AND AGAIN BY CAREGIVERS. - IN APRIL 2020, VITALANT (FORMERLY CENTRAL BLOOD BANK) ANNOUNCED A PILOT PARTNERSHIP WITH AHN AND UPMC TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE, SEVERE CASES OF COVID-19 WITH BLOOD PLASMA DONATED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM THE DISEASE. KNOWN AS "CONVALESCENT PLASMA," THIS PLASMA CONTAINS ANTIBODIES THAT MAY GIVE PATIENTS AN EXTRA BOOST TO FIGHT THEIR ILLNESS. - IN MAY 2020, AHN ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A NEW MOBILE STRATEGY TO BRING COVID-19 TESTING INTO UNDERSERVED WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING ENHANCED ACCESS TO CARE FOR A MORE DIVERSE RANGE OF PATIENTS. MADE POSSIBLE BY GRANTS FROM THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS AND THE HENRY L. HILLMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION, AHN IS USING A MOBILE HEALTH VEHICLE TO CONDUCT TESTING IN PITTSBURGH'S HOMEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, DUQUESNE, PITTSBURGH'S HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, PITTSBURGH'S HILL DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOODS, ETC. - THROUGHOUT 2020, AHN LEADERS COLLABORATED CLOSELY WITH LOCAL AND STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE REGION TO ASSESS THE REGION'S OVERALL PREPAREDNESS AND CAPABILITIES, AND TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED REGIONAL RESPONSE PLAN. AHN SPEARHEADED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSORTIUM OF LOCAL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS WHO MET WEEKLY TO DISCUSS COVID-19 DEVELOPMENTS AND COLLECTIVE RESOURCES TO MANAGE THE PANDEMIC (INCLUDING UPMC, EXCELA, BUTLER, WASHINGTON, ST. CLAIR, HERITAGE AND WVU). THE ERIE AREA HAS ITS OWN SIMILAR CONSORTIUM. AHN ALSO SPEARHEADED SIMILAR CONSORTIUMS MADE UP OF CHIEF NURSING OFFICERS, AS WELL AS ONE MADE UP OF HOME-HEALTH PROVIDERS, IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY. - THROUGHOUT 2020, AHN WORKED WITH OTHER REGIONAL CAREGIVERS AND THE JEWISH HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN NURSING HOMES, PERSONAL CARE HOMES, AND OTHER LONG-TERM-CARE SETTINGS. AHN PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS MEANT TO ASSIST FACILITIES IN PROTECTING THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE VIRUS. IN TOTAL, AHN SPENT APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION ON PANDEMIC RESPONSE ACTIVITIES IN 2020. DONATE LIFE MONTH: IN 2020, AHN'S COMMITMENT TO ORGAN, TISSUE, AND CORNEA DONATION RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF LIVES SAVED OR IMPROVED, EITHER THROUGH TRANSPLANT PROCEDURES CARRIED OUT AT THE NETWORK'S HOSPITALS, OR BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS WHO WERE PATIENTS AT AHN HOSPITALS. AHN PROMOTES ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL (NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH) BY HOSTING A SERIES OF EVENTS ACROSS ITS HOSPITALS. THE EVENTS WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE GIFT OF LIFE WHILE ALSO ENCOURAGING STAFF, PATIENTS AND VISITORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ORGAN DONATION AND HOW TO BECOME A REGISTERED ORGAN DONOR. F.O.R.E. GRANT: THE FOUNDATION FOR OPIOID RESPONSE EFFORTS (F.O.R.E.) ANNOUNCED IN 2019 THAT AHN WOULD BE THE RECIPIENT OF A $600,000 GRANT IN SUPPORT OF A PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED, OPIOID USE DISORDER (OUD) OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND PATIENT RETENTION INTERVENTION. AS PART OF THE PROJECT, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS MADE UP OF A PROVIDER, ADDICTION RECOVERY SPECIALIST, AND COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC ARE MOBILIZING INTO THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THEIR OUD-RELATED TREATMENT NEEDS. FRONT DOOR INITIATIVE: AHN'S JEFFERSON HOSPITAL IS UTILIZING A $1 MILLION, FOUR-YEAR GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE "FRONT DOOR INITIATIVE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINE," A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AMONG PATIENTS WHO VISIT THE HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. PATIENTS WHO FREQUENTLY UTILIZE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OFTEN DO SO BECAUSE OF CHALLENGES FACED IN THEIR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. JEFFERSON HOSPITAL WILL APPLY THE GRANT TOWARD: EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEEDS RELATED TO ITS EMERGENCY SERVICES; IDENTIFICATION OF MODEL PRACTICES FOR SOCIAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE; WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FRONT DOOR VISION AND PLAN; IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRONG DATA SYSTEM; EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STAFF; AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SUPPORT NETWORK AND ENSURING PATIENTS ARE PROPERLY CONNECTED TO IT. |
| HEALTHY FOOD CENTER: A FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE REGION, AHN'S HEALTHY |
FOOD CENTERS ACT AS A "FOOD PHARMACY" WHERE PATIENTS WHO LACK ACCESS TO FOOD CAN RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS FOOD ITEMS, EDUCATION ON DISEASE-SPECIFIC DIETS, AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR OTHER SOCIAL CHALLENGES THEY MIGHT FACE. ACCORDING TO THE GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, A PARTNER OF THE HEALTHY FOOD CENTER, FOOD INSECURITY AFFECTS MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE - OR ONE IN SEVEN ADULTS - IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION. FOOD INSECURITY REFERS TO A LACK OF AVAILABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE FOOD SUCH AS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, LEAN PROTEINS AND WHOLE GRAINS. THE HEALTHY FOOD CENTER PRIMARILY SERVES PATIENTS WITH DIABETES WHO ARE SCREENED BY THEIR DOCTOR AS BEING FOOD INSECURE. PATIENTS RECEIVE A REFERRAL TO THE HEALTHY FOOD CENTER AT WEST PENN AND ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITALS WHERE THEY INITIALLY MEET WITH AN ONSITE DIETITIAN TO DISCUSS THEIR DIETARY NEEDS BASED ON THEIR CONDITION. AFTER SHOPPING AT THE CENTER FOR THE RECOMMENDED FOOD ITEMS, PATIENTS GO HOME WITH TWO TO THREE DAYS' WORTH OF FOOD FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD. THE HEALTHY FOOD CENTER OPENED IN 2018 AT WPH AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPANDED TO AGH, JH, AND SVH. IMMIGRANT HEALTH PROGRAM: THE IMMIGRANT HEALTH PROGRAM AT AHN, PART OF THE AHN CENTER FOR INCLUSION HEALTH, WAS AWARDED A $250,000 GRANT FROM THE JEWISH HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF ITS EFFORTS TO DELIVER A NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH MODEL AIMED AT MEETING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN OUR REGION. FROM 2005-2015, THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN-BORN AREA RESIDENTS GREW FROM 48,266 TO 72,265, MORE THAN HALF OF WHOM ARE WOMEN. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AHN'S CENTER FOR INCLUSION HEALTH AND MORE THAN A DOZEN LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL CONVENE TO DELIVER THE "IMMIGRANT WOMEN-COMMUNITY HEALTH MODEL" AIMED AT PROVIDING IMMIGRANT WOMEN ACCESS TO CULTURALLY- COMPETENT AND QUALITY PERINATAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS OTHER WOMEN'S HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. OPEN HEART SURGERY OBSERVATION: SINCE 2008, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO OBSERVE AHN'S CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS IN ACTION THROUGH THE CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE'S (CVI) OPEN HEART SURGERY OBSERVATION PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 15,000 AREA STUDENTS FROM DOZENS OF SCHOOLS, IS SUPPORTED BY TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS, AND IS PART OF AHN'S AND THE CVI'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. OPIOIDS AND ADDICTION MEDICINE: OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AHN HAS TAKEN NUMEROUS STEPS TO CURB PAINKILLER MISUSE AND ADDICTION, OPIOID USE DISORDER, AND OVERDOSE DEATHS RELATED TO FENTANYL, CARFENTANIL, AND OTHER SYNTHETIC OPIATES. IN 2019, AHN RECEIVED A $5 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMSHA) TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF ENHANCED SUBSTANCE USE SCREENING AND INTERVENTION SERVICES IN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING. ADDITIONALLY, AHN AND GATEWAY HEALTH HAVE PARTNERED TO LAUNCH AN ENHANCED PAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH TAKES A NOVEL, HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TREATING A PATIENT'S PAIN WITHOUT OPIOIDS. THE FIRST SUCH CLINIC HAS OPENED AT THE AHN INSTITUTE FOR PAIN MEDICINE NEAR WEST PENN HOSPITAL, WITH MORE LOCATIONS BEING PLANNED. AHN AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OPENED A NEW 45-BED UNIT AT THE KANE COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER IN MCKEESPORT, PA.; IT HAS BEEN OPERATING SINCE 2018 AS A POST-ACUTE UNIT FOR PATIENTS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. AHN MAINTAINS SECURE, PERMANENT DRUG TAKE-BACK BOXES AT SIX AHN HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS AT THE WEXFORD HEALTH + WELLNESS PAVILION; THE BOXES HAVE ALLOWED PATIENTS AND VISITORS TO DISPOSE OF SURPLUS OR EXPIRED MEDICATIONS YEAR-ROUND SINCE 2018. AHN HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP PATIENTS WITH OPIOID-RELATED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS RECEIVE THE HEALTH AND COMMUNITY-BASED CARE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO RECOVER FROM THEIR ILLNESS AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM WELLNESS. CALLED THE AHN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER, THE CENTER IS ONE OF 45 PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, ALL OF WHICH ARE SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AHN WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA TO PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP CURB THE DEADLY EFFECTS OF OPIOID OVERDOSES; EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AT FORBES HOSPITAL BEGAN TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS FROM THE PITCAIRN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DISPENSE NARCAN, A NARCOTIC "ANTIDOTE" DRUG, TO OVERDOSE VICTIMS. SINCE THEN, AHN PROVIDED THE TRAINING TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING MONROEVILLE, EAST MCKEESPORT AND THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. AHN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS STUDYING AND DEVELOPING SINGLE-DOSE, LONGER-LASTING OPIOID OVERDOSE ANTIDOTES. PERINATAL HOPE: THE PERINATAL HOPE PROGRAM IS A MEDICAL HOME CARE MODEL FOR MOTHERS-TO-BE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO DRUGS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED TREATMENT THAT PUTS THE MOTHER AND BABY ON TRACK FOR A MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE. PERINATAL HOPE IS THE REGION'S FIRST ALL-INCLUSIVE PROGRAM FOR MATERNAL ADDICTION THAT COMBINES OBSTETRICAL CARE, AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL THERAPY AND MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT INTO ONE CLINIC VISIT. PERINATAL HOPE IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY GRANTS FROM THE MARCH OF DIMES FOUNDATION - WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THE HIGHMARK FOUNDATION AND THE JEWISH WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH. ADDITIONALLY, AHN'S NEW WOMEN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM INCLUDES THE REGION'S FIRST INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN WITH PREGNANCY-RELATED DEPRESSION. STOP THE BLEED: AS PART OF THIS ONGOING COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, AHN TRAUMA CENTER REPRESENTATIVES PARTNER WITH EMS PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL OFFICIALS WITH TRAINING ON HOW TO HELP CONTROL BLEEDING FROM INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A MASS CAUSALLY INCIDENT. SIMILAR TO HOW HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN CPR, THE "STOP THE BLEED" CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON TRAINING THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN BLEEDING CONTROL TECHNIQUES. IN MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS, INDIVIDUALS OFTEN SUFFER INJURIES THAT RESULT IN PREVENTABLE DEATHS. BY TRAINING THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN BASIC BLEEDING CONTROL TECHNIQUES, BYSTANDERS WILL BE ABLE TO INITIATE LIFESAVING MEASURES BEFORE THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE. SUMMER CAMP FOR BURN INJURED CHILDREN: IN 1986, WEST PENN BURN CENTER ESTABLISHED ITS SUMMER CAMP FOR BURN INJURED CHILDREN. THE CAMP GIVES CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN BURNED A CHANCE TO HEAL PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT OFFERED PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUN. AT THE FREE, FIVE-DAY CAMP, KIDS AGES 7 TO 17 WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED AT THE WEST PENN BURN CENTER MEET TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND ENJOY NEW EXPERIENCES. WITH THE GUIDANCE OF SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES AND TO TAKE POSITIVE RISKS BY PARTICIPATING IN ADVENTURES - SUCH AS ROPE CLIMBING - THAT HELPS BUILD CONFIDENCE WHILE ALSO BUILDING STRONG BODIES. THRIVE 18: THIS IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT LEVERAGES MULTI-SECTOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH IN PITTSBURGH'S NORTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS. AHN AND ITS FLAGSHIP HOSPITAL, ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL, ALONG WITH PARENT COMPANY HIGHMARK HEALTH ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING PROJECT DESTINY, THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE BUHL FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE HEALTH CHALLENGES FACED BY RESIDENTS OF PITTSBURGH'S NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY. A $250,000 AWARD, COMBINED WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM BOTH HIGHMARK AND THE BUHL FOUNDATION, ARE BEING USED TO CREATE THE "CENTER FOR LIFTING UP EVERYBODY" (CLUB) - A HEALTH AND WELLNESS MODEL AIMED AT REACHING THE NORTHSIDE'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. HOSPITAL PROFILES AND HEALTH SYSTEM COMPONENTS ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL: FOUNDED IN 1885, ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL (AGH) IS AHN'S FLAGSHIP HOSPITAL, SERVING AS AHN'S PRIMARY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ITS PREMIER QUATERNARY CARE FACILITY, OFFERING HIGHLY ADVANCED SPECIALTIES SUCH AS ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, NEUROSURGERY, SURGICAL ONCOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. LOCATED IN PITTSBURGH'S NORTH SIDE, AGH IS ALSO A LEVEL I SHOCK TRAUMA CENTER, AND ITS LIFEFLIGHT AEROMEDICAL SERVICE WAS THE FIRST TO FLY IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. ALLEGHENY VALLEY HOSPITAL: ALLEGHENY VALLEY HOSPITAL (AVH) HAS SERVED NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA., AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. AVH PROVIDES EMERGENCY CARE, SURGICAL CARE, REHABILITATION CARE AND OTHER QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR ITS PATIENTS. |
| CANONSBURG HOSPITAL: SINCE 1904, CANONSBURG HOSPITAL (CH), BASED IN |
CANONSBURG, PA., HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITIES OF NORTHERN WASHINGTON AND SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTIES, PROVIDING QUALITY MEDICAL CARE AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ITS PATIENTS. FORBES HOSPITAL: SINCE 1978, MONROEVILLE'S FORBES HOSPITAL (FH) HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF EASTERN ALLEGHENY AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES. FORBES FEATURES A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER, A TOP-RATED CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY PROGRAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY SERVICE AMONG ITS MANY CLINICAL OFFERINGS. GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER: GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER, NOW AHN GROVE CITY, WAS CREATED IN 1978, THROUGH THE MERGER OF TWO EXISTING GROVE CITY, PA., HOSPITALS. TODAY, THE HOSPITAL OPERATES SIX OUTPATIENT CLINICS AND LAB SITES THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE FOOTPRINT. IT PROVIDES CANCER CARE, CARDIAC CARE, GENERAL SURGERY, LAB SERVICES, HOME HEALTH AND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, AMONG OTHER CLINICAL SERVICES. JEFFERSON HOSPITAL: JEFFERSON HOSPITAL (JH) WAS ORGANIZED IN 1973. LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH, THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES A WIDE SPECTRUM OF HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES, FROM EMERGENCY CARE AND INTENSIVE CARE, TO COMPREHENSIVE SURGICAL PROGRAMS AND REHABILITATION, CANCER CARE AND COMPREHENSIVE LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICES INCLUDING A LEVEL II NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL: SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL (SVH) PROVIDES INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT AND EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND ADJACENT AREAS OF NEW YORK AND OHIO. FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH IN 1875, SVH CONTINUES TO EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF THE SISTERS IN PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALL. ADDITIONALLY, SVH'S FOUR-BED SATELLITE FACILITY, WESTFIELD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, HAS PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO RESIDENTS OF WESTERN NEW YORK FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. IN 2019, THE HOSPITAL OPENED A NEW COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, A NEW, GREATLY EXPANDED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, NEW OPERATING ROOM SUITE AND A SECOND HEALTH & WELLNESS PAVILION ON THE CITY'S WESTSIDE. WEST PENN HOSPITAL: SERVING THE BLOOMFIELD AREA OF PITTSBURGH AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SINCE 1848, WEST PENN HOSPITAL (WPH) IS AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER WITH PRIVATE ACUTE-CARE PATIENT ROOMS AND ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA'S MOST ADVANCED OBSTETRICAL AND NEWBORN CARE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A LEVEL III NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. WPH HAS A REPUTATION FOR OUTSTANDING CLINICAL CARE AND NURSING EXCELLENCE; AND WAS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TO EARN MAGNET RECOGNITION' STATUS FROM THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC). WPH ALSO IS HOME TO THE WEST PENN BURN CENTER, THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN THE REGION CERTIFIED TO TREAT BOTH PEDIATRIC AND ADULT BURN PATIENTS. IN 2019, WPH WAS NAMED ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP 100 HOSPITALS BY IBM WATSON. NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALS: AHN OPENED FOUR SMALL-SCALE, NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITALS OVER IN 2020: AHN HEMPFIELD, AHN MCCANDLESS, AHN BRENTWOOD, AND AHN HARMAR. AGH SUBURBAN: THE FORMER ACUTE-CARE HOSPITAL IN BELLEVUE, PA., IS BEING REDEVELOPED INTO A COMMUNITY INNOVATION HUB THAT SEEKS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINENTS OF HEALTH AND OTHER CARE BARRIERS. AGH SUBURBAN IS NOW HOME TO ALPHALAB HEALTH, A HEALTH CARE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR THAT INVESTS IN EARLY-STAGE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES. OUTPATIENT CARE FACILITIES: IN ADDITION TO ITS HUNDREDS OF CLINICAL OFFICES, AHN OPERATES FIVE LARGE, MULTI-SPECIALTY HEALTH + WELLNESS PAVILIONS (TWO IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, ONE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND TWO IN ERIE COUNTY), AS WELL AS SEVERAL URGENT CARE CLINICS AND SURGERY CENTERS. ALLEGHENY SINGER RESEARCH INSTITUTE: ALLEGHENY SINGER RESEARCH INSTITUTE OFFERS ACCESS TO NEW DRUG THERAPIES, HONES REVOLUTIONARY SURGICAL PROCEDURES, AND HAS ADVANCED EXPERTISE WITH INNOVATIVE DEVICES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES THAT HELP REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC DISEASE. THE INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, AND HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE REGION TO WORK TOWARD A SERIES OF COMMON GOALS: DISCOVERING CURES, DEVELOPING THE NEXT CLINICAL "BEST PRACTICES" IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF PATIENTS AND ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE. PHYSICIANS AND SCIENTISTS AT AHN ARE OFTEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF ADVANCED TREATMENTS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIVE MEDICAL RESEARCH ACROSS ALL OF THE NETWORK'S PROGRAMS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE NETWORK'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE COORDINATES PRIVATE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, TREAT AND PREVENT DISEASE, AND THE NETWORK'S HOSPITALS ARE FREQUENTLY INVOLVED IN CLINICAL TRIALS OF BREAST, PROSTATE AND BOWEL CANCER, BURN AND TRAUMATIC INJURIES, GENE THERAPY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES, AND MORE. THE NETWORK IS CURRENTLY HOME TO HUNDREDS OF ACTIVE CLINICAL RESEARCH TRIALS. ALLEGHENY CLINIC: THE ALLEGHENY CLINIC IS ONE OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S LARGEST PHYSICIAN GROUPS. SINCE THE FORMATION OF AHN, AHN HAS ADDED HUNDREDS OF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, SPECIALISTS AND SURGEONS TO THE ALLEGHENY CLINIC. THOSE PHYSICIANS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SUPPORT DOZENS OF SPECIALTY SERVICE LINES AND CLINICAL INSTITUTES, INCLUDING THE BARIATRIC AND METABOLIC INSTITUTE, THE CANCER INSTITUTE, THE CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE, THE ESOPHAGEAL AND LUNG INSTITUTE, THE NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE, THE ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE AND THE TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE. FOUNDATIONS: IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ENTITIES, AHN ALSO INCLUDES A NUMBER OF AFFILIATED PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS: THE ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER TRUST, FORBES HEALTH FOUNDATION, SUBURBAN HEALTH FOUNDATION, SAINT VINCENT FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION. KEY INSTITUTES AND SERVICES LINES ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK CANCER INSTITUTE: AHN'S CANCER INSTITUTE INCLUDES MORE THAN 50 CANCER INSTITUTE CLINICS, TWO DOZEN SEPARATE CLINICAL LOCATIONS AND A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF MORE THAN 200 PHYSICIANS. THE INSTITUTE TREATS 10,000 PATIENTS ANNUALLY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, ERIE, WEST VIRGINIA, AND OHIO. IN 2019, AHN OPENED NEW COMMUNITY CANCER CENTERS IN BUTLER, BEAVER, ALLEGHENY, AND ERIE COUNTIES. AHN ALSO OPENED A NEW ACADEMIC CANCER INSTITUTE AND CANCER GENOME LABORATORY ON THE AGH CAMPUS IN 2020. ADDITIONALLY, AHN COLLABORATES WITH JOHNS HOPKINS KIMMEL CANCER CENTER, TO OFFER MORE STREAM-LINED ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TREATMENT OPTIONS AND SECOND OPINIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH RARE AND COMPLEX CANCERS, AMONG OTHER BENEFITS. |
| ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE: ON THE |
FRONTIER OF ADVANCED SPECIALTY HEART CARE, THE ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE (CVI) IS ONE OF THE PREMIER CARDIAC PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY, PROVIDING SUPERIOR STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH HEART DISEASE AND ACCESS TO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF SPECIALISTS AND INNOVATIVE THERAPIES, INCLUDING MANY AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH ADVANCED CLINICAL TRIALS. THE PHYSICIANS OF THE AHN CVI'S SEVEN HOSPITALS AND 20 OUTPATIENT PITTSBURGH- AND ERIE-AREA LOCATIONS HAVE HELPED TO PIONEER THE USE OF THE LATEST GENERATION OF IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATORS; WERE AMONG THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO PERFORM TRANS-CATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT (TAVR), REPLACING DEFECTIVE AORTIC HEART VALVES VIA A MINIMALLY INVASIVE CATHETER PROCEDURE; INTRODUCED NEW TREATMENTS TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE MITRAL VALVES VIA ROBOT-ASSISTED MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY; AND PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES (LVAD), A MECHANICAL PUMP THAT IS SURGICALLY IMPLANTED TO ASSIST A WEAKENED HEART MUSCLE. CURRENTLY, THE PHYSICIANS AT THE CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE ARE CONDUCTING RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO BETTER WAYS TO PREVENT, FIND AND TREAT HEART DISEASE. ADDITIONALLY, AHN'S WOMEN'S HEART CENTER, THE FIRST HEART CENTER OF ITS KIND IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, TREATS COMPLEX CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS FOR ADULT WOMEN OF ALL AGES. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK EQUITABLE HEALTH INSTITUTE: THE EQUITABLE HEALTH INSTITUTE, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 2020, AIMS TO ADDRESS AND MITIGATE MANY OF THE HEALTH OUTCOMES DISPARITIES AFFECTING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. ITS FIRST PROGRAMS WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF INFANT MORTALITY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS. PITTSBURGH'S RATE OF INFANT MORTALITY FOR BLACK BABIES IS MORE THAN SIX TIMES HIGHER THAN IT IS FOR WHITE BABIES - 13 DEATHS PER 1,000 BIRTHS, COMPARED TO TWO DEATHS FOR WHITE BABIES.THE INSTITUTE IS LED BY CHIEF CLINICAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER DR. MARGARET LARKINS-PETTIGREW. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK MEDICINE INSTITUTE: AHN'S MEDICINE INSTITUTE'S HOUSES THE ONE-OF-A-KIND AUTOIMMUNITY INSTITUTE, WHICH OPENED A NEW FACILITY IN 2018 THAT COMBINES MULTISPECIALTY CARE WITH CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, PATIENT EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY TO ADVANCE THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND ACCELERATE DISCOVERY OF A CURE FOR MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT DISEASE TYPES. THE AHN AUTOIMMUNITY INSTITUTE HOSTS FOUR "CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE" FOR THE TREATMENT OF COMMON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES INCLUDING LUPUS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND CELIAC DISEASE. THE INSTITUTE INCLUDES PHYSICIANS FROM AN ARRAY OF CLINICAL SUBSPECIALTIES SUCH AS RHEUMATOLOGY, ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, PULMONARY, DERMATOLOGY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, NEPHROLOGY, ENDOCRINOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY AND INFUSION THERAPY. THE MEDICINE INSTITUTE ALSO INCLUDES SPECIALTY PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO DERMATOLOGY, DENTISTRY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, NEPHROLOGY, AND INCLUSION HEALTH. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE: AHN'S NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN PROVIDING INNOVATIVE, EXPERT CARE FOR COMPLEX BRAIN, SPINE, OR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. AHN'S RENOWNED NEUROSURGEONS HAVE DEVELOPED GROUNDBREAKING SURGERIES AND TREATMENT ADVANCEMENTS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVED CARE FOR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE, TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA, STROKE COMPLICATIONS, CONGENITAL SPINAL CONDITIONS, AND MORE. ADDITIONALLY, AGH HAS EARNED A "COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER" DESIGNATION, THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION OF STROKE CARE AWARDED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S JOINT COMMISSION. AHN'S NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM INCLUDES RENOWNED EXPERTS IN THE SUBSPECIALTIES OF NEUROLOGY, NEURO-OTOLOGY, NEURORADIOLOGY, NEURO-CRITICAL CARE, AND NEUROSURGERY, AND THE INSTITUTE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A NEUROSCIENCES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AND A SPINE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, ENABLING AHN AND AGH TO SERVE AS A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REFERRAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF ALL TYPES OF NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE: THE ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF SURGEONS, PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED TREATMENT PLAN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR EACH PATIENT, SPECIALIZING IN PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDICS, JOINT REPLACEMENT, ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY, SPINAL SURGERY, AND SPORTS MEDICINE. TOGETHER, AHN AND HH HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN AHN'S ORTHOPAEDIC CAPABILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE OPENING OF THE AHN SPORTS COMPLEX AT COOL SPRINGS, A LARGE MULTI-SPORT FACILITY SPECIALIZING IN ORTHOPAEDIC CARE AND SPORTS MEDICINE, AND THE OPENING OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC INSTITUTE, A GROUP OF ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALISTS WHO TREAT A WIDE RANGE OF NEURO- AND MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND CONDITIONS. AHN'S SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM IS THE OFFICIAL MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES AND THE PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS, AND HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN OFFICIAL U.S. OLYMPIC REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. AHN ALSO OFFERS SPORTS MEDICINE SERVICES FOR LOCAL COLLEGES AND DISTRICTS. ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE: THE AHN TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE PROVIDES PERSONALIZED, COMPASSIONATE CARE FROM A SPECIALIZED TEAM OF EXPERTS, INCLUDING TRANSPLANT SURGEONS, NEPHROLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, PHARMACISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, DIETITIANS, TRANSPLANT NURSE COORDINATORS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. THE TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE OFFERS HEART, KIDNEY, PANCREAS AND LIVER TRANSPLANTATION SERVICES, WITH A LEGACY OF TRANSPLANTATION CARE AND INNOVATION THAT DATES TO THE 1980S. IN ADDITION TO TRANSPLANTATION SERVICES, THE AHN TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE OFFERS PATIENTS ACCESS TO NOVEL IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AGENTS AND CLINICAL TRIALS. ADDITIONALLY, AHN AND ITS TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE ARE ADVOCATES FOR ORGAN DONATION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS. EMERGENCY MEDICINE AND TRAUMA CARE: IN 2020, AHN'S HOSPITALS RECORDED NEARLY 270,000 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND AHN'S AFFILIATED TRAUMA CENTERS PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING CARE TO THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS ANNUALLY. AHN'S EXPERIENCED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF PHYSICIANS, SPECIALISTS, NURSES, TRAUMA SURGEONS AND SUPPORT STAFF PROVIDE AROUND-THE-CLOCK, AWARD-WINNING CARE FOR THE REGION'S SICK AND WOUNDED. AHN'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS HAVE SOME OF THE SHORTEST WAIT TIMES IN THE STATE. AHN'S HOSPITALS OPERATE EIGHT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: AGH IS A LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER, OFFERING TRAUMA SURGERY, SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY GENERAL SURGERY, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; FH OPERATES A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER; AND WPH CARRIES A VERIFICATION FROM BOTH THE AMERICAN BURN ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, FOR THE TREATMENT OF BOTH PEDIATRIC AND ADULT BURN PATIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, AHN'S LIFEFLIGHT, WHICH PROVIDES REGIONAL EMERGENCY HELICOPTER AND CRITICAL CARE GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR CRITICALLY ILL AND INJURED PATIENTS WHO NEED IMMEDIATE SPECIALIZED CARE, OPERATES FIVE MEDICAL HELICOPTER BASES (AT CLARION HOSPITAL, CANONSBURG HOSPITAL, INDIANA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, BUTLER AIRPORT, AND ROSTRAVER AIRPORT). AHN WOMEN'S INSTITUTE: AHN OFFERS COMPASSIONATE AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE THROUGH THE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 100 OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER SPECIALISTS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO CARE FOR WOMEN. AHN'S GROWING WOMEN'S HEALTH TEAM TREATS PATIENTS AT MORE THAN 50 WOMEN'S HEALTH OFFICE LOCATIONS, THROUGH EVERY LIFE STAGE: PREVENTION AND WELLNESS; LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICES; ADVANCED GYNECOLOGIC SURGERIES; MIDLIFE CARE; SPECIALIZED CARDIOVASCULAR TREATMENTS; LEADING-EDGE BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC CAPABILITIES; MENOPAUSE AND OSTEOPOROSIS THERAPIES; AND INNOVATIVE CLINICAL TRIALS AND ADVANCED THERAPIES FOR GYNECOLOGIC CANCER. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AHN HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO ITS FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRAND NEW MATERNITY UNIT AT JEFFERSON HOSPITAL, EXPANDED AND ENHANCED OBSTETRIC UNITS AT FORBES AND WEST PENN HOSPITALS, THE LAUNCH OF AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR MOTHERS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, AND THE PLANNED CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT WEST PENN. IN 2018, AHN OPENED ITS ALEXIS JOY D'ACHILLE CENTER FOR PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH, AN INNOVATIVE NEW FACILITY THAT OFFERS WOMEN WITH PREGNANCY-RELATED DEPRESSION ACCESS TO A SPECTRUM OF FAMILY-FOCUSED CARE OPTIONS UNDER ONE ROOF. IN 2020, AHN'S OBSTETRICAL UNITS DELIVERED NEARLY 8,000 BABIES. |
| ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
OVER THE YEARS, AHN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, CLINICAL QUALITY, AND THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF ITS PROFESSIONAL AND CLINICAL PROGRAMMING. IN 2020, IT RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS AND ACCREDITATIONS, AMONG OTHERS: IN 2020, THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF LACTATION CONSULTANTS (IBCLC) AWARDED THE 2020 CARE AWARD, AN INDICATION OF ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT TO BREASTFEEDING FAMILIES, TO THE AHN WOMEN AND INFANTS CENTER AT WEST PENN HOSPITAL FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE, TWO-YEAR TERM. In 2020, WEST PENN HOSPITAL WAS AGAIN NAMED ONE OF THE NATION'S 100 TOP HOSPITALS BY IBM WATSON. PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK WAS SELECTED BY MODERN HEALTHCARE MAGAZINE AS ONE OF 2020'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE. IN 2020, THE COMMISSION ON CANCER (COC) NAMED ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK'S SYSTEM CHIEF OF COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE RECTAL CANCER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AT AHN CANCER INSTITUTE, AS RECIPIENT OF ITS STATE CHAIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD. THE AHN ENDOSCOPY CENTER IN HEMPFIELD, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, WAS A 2020 RECIPIENT OF THE GUARDIAN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM PRESS GANEY, EARNING AN HONOR IN THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE CATEGORY. THE ENDOSCOPY CENTER IS ONE OF JUST THREE FACILITIES IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA TO EARN THE DESIGNATION. IN 2020, SIX AHN HOSPITALS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR DELIVERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF HEART FAILURE TREATMENT. IN THIS YEAR'S AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA) GET WITH THE GUIDELINES- HEART FAILURE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, ALLEGHENY GENERAL, FORBES, JEFFERSON, ALLEGHENY VALLEY, SAINT VINCENT, AND WEST PENN HOSPITALS RECEIVED GOLD PLUS DESIGNATIONS, A MILESTONE FOR THE AHN CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE WITH EACH HOSPITAL EARNING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT. IN 2020, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION/AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION (AHA/ASA) RECOGNIZED SIX AHN HOSPITALS FOR THE HIGH QUALITY OF THEIR STROKE PROGRAMS. ALLEGHENY GENERAL, ALLEGHENY VALLEY, FORBES, JEFFERSON AND SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL EACH RECEIVED THE AHA/ASA GOLD PLUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WHILE WEST PENN HOSPITAL EARNED SILVER PLUS. IN 2020, THE AHN CANONSBURG AMBULANCE SERVICE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA)'S MISSION: LIFELINE EMS SILVER PLUS AWARD FOR ITS REMARKABLE CARE AND TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING CARDIAC ARREST, SPECIFICALLY, ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION INCIDENTS. IN 2020, AHN SAINT VINCENT EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN WAS NAMED THE PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS (PACEP) 2020 EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR. DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR THE AHN MEDICINE INSTITUTE AT ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK WAS RECOGNIZED BY DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE WITH THE 2020 DEAN'S SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TEACHING AT AHN. |
| VOTING MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BOARD |
FORM 990, PART I, LINE 3 THE NUMBER OF VOTING MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY REFLECTED IN IRS FORM 990, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 3 WILL NOT CORRESPOND TO THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF VOTING MEMBERS LISTED IN IRS FORM 990, PAGE 7, PART VII BECAUSE CERTAIN VOTING MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY ARE VOTING MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP FILING. IN THESE INSTANCES, THE INDIVIDUAL IS COUNTED IN PART I, LINE 3 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH THEY ARE VOTING MEMBERS BUT WILL ONLY BE LISTED IN PART VII ONCE. THE ULTIMATE PARENT ORGANIZATION, HIGHMARK HEALTH, IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT CONSIST OF A MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT PERSONS. HIGHMARK HEALTH HAS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY AND CONTROL OF ALL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP FILING. |
| CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS, AND SIMILAR AMOUNTS RECEIVED |
FORM 990, PART I, LINE 8 PURSUANT TO TREASURY REGULATION SECTION 1 6033-2(D)(5) THE SPONSORING ENTITY OF HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP, HIGHMARK HEALTH, HAS ELECTED TO REPORT INFORMATION ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS, AND SIMILAR AMOUNTS RECEIVED, INFORMATION ABOUT OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES, AND KEY EMPLOYEES, CERTAIN OTHER HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEES, CERTAIN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS ALONG WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP IN THE HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP RETURN. |
| BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THEIR CONNECTION OF SERVING TOGETHER ON THE BOARD OF RELATED TAXABLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: JOSEPH GUYAUX, DAVID BLANDINO, M.D., VICTOR ROQUE, DAVID MALONE, DAVID MATTER, AND DAVID HOLMBERG. MEMBERS OR STOCKHOLDERS FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: - CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL - ALLEGHENY MEDICAL PRACTICE NETWORK - ALLEGHENY SINGER RESEARCH INSTITUTE - ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER - THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION - FORBES HEALTH FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY CLINIC - ALLEGHENY CLINIC MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AHN IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: - JEFFERSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER - WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. - SAINT VINCENT HEALTH SYSTEM - SAINT VINCENT HEALTH CENTER - GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF: - ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER TRUST HIGHMARK HEALTH IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF: - ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK SAINT VINCENT HEALTH SYSTEM IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES: - SAINT VINCENT FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - SAINT VINCENT AFFILIATED PHYSICIANS - SAINT VINCENT MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH INSTITUTE - Westfield Memorial Hospital CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF: - CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL AMBULANCE SERVICE GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF: - WOLF CREEK MEDICAL ASSOCIATES AHN EMERUS WESTMORELAND, LLC OWNED THROUGH ANH 51% MEMBERSHIP IN THE AHN EMERUS LLC JOINT VENTURE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A MEMBERS OR STOCKHOLDERS WHO MAY ELECT PURSUANT TO THE BYLAWS OF EACH ENTITY, EITHER HIGHMARK HEALTH OR THE ENTITY'S SOLE DIRECT MEMBER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ELECT OR APPOINT ALL OR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SUCH ENTITY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TO REMOVE OR REPLACE SUCH DIRECTORS. |
| DECISIONS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B For the following entities that comprise the group, Highmark Health, as the direct or indirect sole member, holds certain reserve powers pursuant to the bylaws of: - CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL - JEFFERSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER - ALLEGHENY SINGER RESEARCH INSTITUTE - ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER - WEST PENN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION - ALLE-KISKI MEDICAL CENTER TRUST - FORBES HEALTH FOUNDATION - WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. - SAINT VINCENT FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - SAINT VINCENT MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE - SAINT VINCENT HEALTH SYSTEM - SAINT VINCENT HEALTH CENTER - SAINT VINCENT AFFILIATED PHYSICIANS - CANONSBURG GENERAL HOSPITAL AMBULANCE SERVICE - ALLEGHENY CLINIC - ALLEGHENY CLINIC MEDICAL ONCOLOGY - ALLEGHENY MEDICAL PRACTICE NETWORK - GROVE CITY MEDICAL CENTER THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RESERVED POWERS OF HIGHMARK HEALTH: 1) TO APPROVE THE ELECTION, RE-ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF ALL OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES; 2) TO AMEND, REVISE OR RESTATE THE CORPORATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS AND APPROVE ALL AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS OF THE CORPORATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS THAT MAY BE PROPOSED OR APPROVED BY AHN, THE MEMBER OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS. 3) TO ADOPT OR CHANGE THE MISSION, PURPOSE, PHILOSOPHY OR OBJECTIVES OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES; 4) TO CHANGE THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AS A VOLUNTARY, NONPROFIT CORPORATION; 5) TO (A) DISSOLVE, DIVIDE, CONVERT OR LIQUIDATE THE CORPORATION OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) CONSOLIDATE OR MERGE THE CORPORATION OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES WITH ANOTHER CORPORATION OR ENTITY, (C) SELL OR ACQUIRE ASSETS, WHETHER IN A SINGLE TRANSACTION OR SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS, WHERE THE CONSOLIDATION EXCEEDS 1% OF THE CORPORATION'S OR THE RELEVANT SUBSIDIARY'S TOTAL ASSETS, AND (D) APPROVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING ACTIONS THAT MAY BE PROPOSED BY AHN, THE MEMBER OR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION BEFORE SUCH ACTION BECOMES EFFECTIVE; 6) TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL AND OPERATING PLAN AND BUDGET OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO OR SIGNIFICANT VARIANCES THEREFROM; 7) APPROVE THE INCURRENCE OF DEBT BY THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR THE MAKING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BY THE CORPORATION AND THE SUBSIDIARIES DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION, IN EITHER CASE IN EXCESS OF ONE QUARTER OF 1% OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR IF SUCH DEBT OR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CORPORATION'S SUBSIDIARIES' APPROVED BUDGETS, WHETHER IN A SINGLE TRANSACTION OR A SERIES OF RELATED TRANSACTIONS. 8) TO APPROVE ANY DONATION OR ANY OTHER TRANSFER OF THE CORPORATION'S OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES' ASSETS, OTHER THAN TO THE MEMBER OR TO THE CORPORATION BY ITS SUBSIDIARIES, IN EXCESS OF $10,000,000, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED IN THE CORPORATION'S OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES' APPROVED BUDGETS. 9) TO APPROVE STRATEGIC PLANS AND MISSION STATEMENTS OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES; 10) TO APPROVE INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES; 11) TO APPROVE THE CLOSURE OR RELOCATION OF A LICENSED HEALTHCARE FACILITY OF THE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES; 12) TO APPROVE THE FORMATION OF SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT VENTURES OR TO MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS IN EXISTING SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT VENTURES, IF THE NEW INVESTMENTS OF THE CORPORATION AND THE SUBSIDIARIES IN SUCH SUBSIDIARIES CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND JOINT VENTURES DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR WOULD, IN THE AGGREGATE, EXCEED 1% OF THE CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED TOTAL ASSETS AT THE END OF THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION; 13) TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE THE CORPORATION'S PROGRAM FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE CORPORATION, ALL ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND THE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN ALL GOVERNMENTAL PAYER PROGRAMS APPLICABLE TO THE CORPORATION; AND 14) TO SELECT AND APPOINT AUDITORS AND TO DESIGNATE THE FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION AND THE SUBSIDIARIES. 15) TO GIVE SUCH OTHER APPROVALS AND TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS AS ARE SPECIFICALLY RESERVED TO MEMBERS OF PENNSYLVANIA NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS UNDER THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION LAW. |
| FORM 990 REVIEW PROCESS |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP IRS FORM 990 WAS PREPARED BY ITS EXTERNAL ADVISORS, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AND REVIEWED BY THE HIGHMARK HEALTH TAX DEPARTMENT, SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE. Before filing the tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, a final copy was provided to all members of the Boards of Directors. |
| CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C Highmark Health (HH) has a Integrated Risk Operations Department that monitors and oversees compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy for all entities within the filing group. The following describes the manner in which the Integrated Risk Operations Department monitors and oversees compliance with the conflict of interest policy: CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ARE COMPLETED UPON HIRE/APPOINTMENT AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BY ALL BOARD MEMBERS, OFFICERS, KEY EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS AND ABOVE, PERSONS WITH PURCHASING AND DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY, AND ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES AS DESIGNATED BY THE Integrated Risk Operations Department. INDIVIDUALS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE Integrated Risk Operations Department THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IF CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE THAT MAY GIVE RISE TO A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR CHANGE A PREVIOUSLY-DISCLOSED CONFLICT. Upon completion of the above disclosure statement by all applicable individuals, the Integrated Risk Operations Department reviews all disclosures. Those disclosure statements that require additional information or clarification are contacted by the Integrated Risk Operations Department requesting such. Once received, the Integrated Risk Operations Department reviews the information to determine whether a real or potential conflict of interest exists. As applicable, Legal and Senior Management are consulted to determine whether a real or potential conflict of interest exists. When a conflict requires a mitigation plan, the mitigation plan is developed and approved in coordination with the respective responsible senior management. The senior managers are responsible for discussing the mitigation plan with the individual and monitoring compliance with the mitigation plan. A Conflict of Interest/Independence Disclosure Summary Report of all board members and officers with reportable disclosures is provided to the Audit and Compliance committee of the Board of Highmark Health as well as the Board of Directors of Highmark Health, AHN and any applicable hospital. |
| PROCESS FOR DETERMINING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINES 15A AND 15B AHN follows a process for determining compensation for executive positions, including officers, key employees and other management positions, and is covered by the Highmark Health executive compensation policy. The policy was approved by the Highmark Health board of directors. It is the policy of AHN management to compensate its executives in accordance with the market and in relation to the experience, service and accomplishments of the individual both prior to and during their service with AHN. The Highmark Health personnel and compensation committee (P&C) of the Board of Directors approves the compensation for the president and CEO of AHN and all non-hospital senior executives who report directly to the president and CEO of AHN. The personnel and compensation committee uses comparability data provided by an independent compensation consultant. The external consultant provides a letter of reasonability for all offers made to new executives that report to the AHN CEO. Each P&C committee member voting on a senior executive's compensation arrangement ensures that he or she has no conflict of interest, including that he or she (a) does not economically benefit from the proposed employment; (b) does not receive compensation subject to the approval of the proposed employee; and (c) has no material financial interest affected by the transaction. The executive compensation program for the hospital entities within the group is administered by the CEO of AHN with respect to the CEOs, COOs and CFOs of each hospital, pursuant to overall guidelines established by the personnel and compensation committee of the board of directors of Highmark Health. It is the policy of AHN to compensate its executives in accordance with competitive market practices, taking into account organizational performance and the skills, experience, qualifications and performance of each executive. AHN generally targets the median of the relevant market with reasonable variation based on each executive's skills, experience, performance and current positioning relative to market. Highmark Health management, in coordination with the independent consultant to the P&C committee obtains appropriate market comparability data for each position, including nationally published compensation surveys and/or specific organization peer groups, to prepare compensation recommendations for all key executives, including officers, key employees, and other disqualified persons. Recommendations are reviewed and approved by a committee that is independent with respect to the compensation provided to the executives. Compensation may include several forms of cash compensation, including base salary, performance-based incentive compensation, and a competitive employee benefits program. Base salary is the fixed element of compensation intended to align with each executive's role, responsibilities, overall performance and other contributions. Incentive compensation is used to provide variable, or "at risk" compensation, based on the performance of both the executive and the organization. Typically, AHN and hospital executives can earn incentive compensation only if the organization achieves certain pre-determined goals as approved by the P&C Committee. The plans are intended to hold executives accountable for achieving performance that is consistent with the long-term goals and objectives of the organization. All entities within the filing follow the requirement in the regulations to comply with the rebuttable presumption of the reasonableness of compensation. THE P&C COMMITTEE COMPLETED A REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION STUDY OF CORPORATE EXECUTIVES PREPARED BY THE INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT IN JULY 2020. |
| HOW DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC |
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS, AND ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AND APPROVAL BY THE CFO OF HIGHMARK HEALTH. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS PART VII, SECTION B, LINE 2 LISTED IN THIS FORM 990, PART VII ARE THE FIVE HIGHEST PAID THAT PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE HIGHMARK HEALTH GROUP. THE AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS REPORTED ON LINE 2 INCLUDES THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF VENDORS PAID OVER $100,000. |
| OTHER CHANGES IN NET ASSETS |
FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 EQUITY TRANSFERS 264,125,295 PENSION LIABILITY ADJUSTMENTS (8,868,265) OTHER 47,210,801 ------------- TOTAL 302,467,831 |
Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. 
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.