Contributed: A new era — Officials are changing signage at Washington Health System’s main campus to reflect a new affiliation with UPMC.
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington Health System announced it has officially merged with UPMC to become UPMC Washington and UPMC Green.
The announcement came shortly after the Pennsylvania Attorney General approved the merger after addressing concerns about the transaction’s potential impact on patients, employees and the community.
According to the agreement, hospitals must negotiate with the cooperative health plans to resolve any disputes over contract terms and submit to a single arbitration body that will ultimately make the best offer.
Brooke Ward, president of UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene, said in a statement that the partnership “protects the vitality of important regional assets and solidifies the future health of Washington and Greene counties for generations to come.”
The merger plans were announced in June 2023, with UPMC committing to investing at least $300 million over 10 years to enhance clinical services and upgrade facilities at both local hospitals.
After news of the merger completion broke on June 1, a spokesman for the union representing WHS workers said they were remaining cautious.
Dave Bates, a spokesman for SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, said UPMC has closed area hospitals, cut services, laid off thousands of health care workers and drastically reduced wages.
“These are just some of the reasons why frontline health care workers at Washington Hospital are very skeptical,” Bates said.
Bates noted that while the agreement includes important protections, it doesn’t guarantee that facilities will stay open or that jobs and services won’t be cut.
“We stand united in holding UPMC accountable to abide by the terms of the agreement and honour its commitments to the community to invest $300 million and maintain all services, access to insurance plans, employment and union contract standards,” he said.
UPMC President and CEO Leslie C. Davis said the system has a “longstanding and successful track record of partnering with like-minded organizations.”
“We know how essential these hospitals are to maintaining needed health care services in this region and the lives of the thousands of people they touch, and we are excited to welcome UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene to UPMC,” she said in a release announcing the completion of the merger.
SEIU representatives said they won’t have to wait long to see if UPMC’s promises are true as the union heads into contract negotiations at the end of the year.
“We expect UPMC to recognize our union, honor our contract, and negotiate in good faith. We are 100 percent committed to winning a strong contract and will continue to have a voice at Washington Health and advocate for quality health care and good jobs,” union representatives said.
UPMC Washington and UPMC Green will maintain their regional boards, which are comprised of 11 former WHS board members and five newly appointed members from UPMC, according to the announcement.
The affiliation will not affect area residents’ in-network access to WHS hospitals and physicians, and UPMC Washington, UPMC Greene and their affiliated outpatient facilities will continue to honor contracts with local and national insurers, according to the announcement.
