UPMC Transplant Program Resolves Paperwork Violations

Hospital officials say state inspectors have revisited UPMC's Presbyterian Shadyside transplant programs and have determined that violations of federal documentation rules have been corrected. UPMC spokeswoman Kristin Beaver says on June 14 the Pennsylvania Department of Health "re-surveyed UPMC's transplant programs and they informed our staff that seven of our programs have been re-certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the next three years."
A March inspection discovered "serious" violations and at the time UPMC said the paperwork problems were easily remedied. Inspectors never suggested that there was any danger to patients. However, if the health system had no corrected the problems within 6 months, it could have been denied Medicare reimbursements for transplants. Beaver says they expect to receive official notification of re-certification within a few weeks.

Some PA Residents to Get Free H1N1 Vaccine

After weeks of delays, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is offering free clinics to provide H1N1 vaccines to high-risk groups.

Those groups are pregnant women, people under 24 years old, medical and health care personnel, people who care for children younger than six months, and anyone aged 25-64 years with a serious medical condition.

Department of Health Spokeswoman Stacy Kriedeman says this is a crucial time for vaccinations, because the H1N1 threat is far from over.

“It’s important that people, particularly those in the recommended groups, continue to get vaccinated against H1N1,” says Kriedeman. “We also anticipate there will be a third wave of this pandemic, so we don’t want people to get complacent.”

Vaccines can be found in the injection and nasal spray form at eighteen sites across the state. Anyone who wants vaccination must download and complete a consent form online at < www.h1n1PA.com >.

Southwestern Pennsylvania sites for H1N1 vaccination:

• Richland Township Fire Department
1321 Scalp Avenue, Johnstown PA, 15904
(Cambria, Somerset, and Indiana Counties)
• Mon Valley State Health Center
Eastgate 11, Monessen PA, 15062
(Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties)
• Butler County State Health Center
100 Brugh Avenue [Suite 201], Butler PA, 16001
(Butler, Armstrong, and Beaver Counties)

Allegheny County H1N1 vaccination sites:

• Chartiers Valley High School
50 Thoms Run Road, Collier
• McKeesport High School
1960 Eden Park Boulevard, McKeesport
• North Allegheny High School
10375 Perry Highway, McCandless
• Schenley High School
129 Denniston Avenue, East Liberty

PA applies for abstinence only funds

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is applying for $1.7 million in federal grants for abstinence-only sex education. In the past the Rendell administration has not applied for the grants partially because the administration does not think anything short of a comprehensive sex education is adequate. Health Dept. spokesperson Claudine Battisti says this does not represent a shift in policy. She says the state is still not spending any of its money on abstinence only education it is only serving as a conduit for the federal dollars. The federal grants require a 43-percent match and the applicant will have to provide those funds without state assistance. Battisti says the department wants to be fair to schools and community groups that want to emphasize only avoiding sex before marriage.