Razing of Braddock Hospital Okayed

Allegheny County Judge Lawrence O'Toole has signed off on the demolition of UPMC Braddock Hospital and the transfer of the property to the county Redevelopment Authority. Seven Braddock residents filed a lawsuit to stop the razing of the closed hospital, claiming UPMC violated their civil rights and the health system failed to adhere to laws that govern nonprofits.
Judge O'Toole ruled that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing to challenge the demolition. A UPMC spokesman says the razing of the main hospital building could begin Monday.
The state is providing $3 million for a new facility that will house a health services clinic, a community college center, a restaurant, and additional housing.

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.

House of Hope

When UPMC shuttered Braddock Hospital earlier this year, they left few of their programs operating in the borough. Among them is House of Hope. It provides shelter and supports homeless, drug-addicted pregnant women and new mothers through the early stages of recovery. UPMC might be moving the program out of Braddock- which would deal another blow to an already distressed community. This story is part of our continuing coverage of behavioral health issues. Listen to it here.

New Austin's Playroom

The 16th Austin's Playroom opened today at A Child's Place at Mercy Health Center. The playroom project came about when former hockey player Mario Lemieux's wife Nathalie, had a premature son. While she was in the hospital, she wished there was a place for her other two children to play.

The rooms are typically cheerful, child-friendly and filled with toys, games and computers. At A Child's Place, which serves children who have been neglected or abused or in the foster care system, the playroom is the waiting room.

Nathalie Lemieux says she is pleased with the feedback she has gotten about the rooms.

UPMC Doctors Study Parent-Infant Bed Sharing

Despite being aware of the dangers associated with parent-infant bed sharing—suffocation, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)—some parents still choose to sleep with their child. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have attempted to find out why. Through interviews with 28 bed-sharing caregivers, Dr. Jennifer Chianese, lead author of the study, and Dr. Judy Chang, the study’s senior author, believe it breaks down to five motivational themes:

1. Better Sleep- Parents believe bed sharing allows both parent and infant to sleep for longer periods of time.
2. Convenience- By having the infant in bed with them, parents can more easily tend to different needs they may have through the night.
3. Tradition- Dr. Chang says there are cultural and historical references to bed sharing. Some parents also had personal experiences with bed sharing as infants.
4. Child Safety- By having infants by their sides, parents believed they could more closely monitor their children with their breathing patterns.
5. Emotional Needs- Parents often report a strong bonding when sleeping with their baby.

Dr. Chang says she recommends to these parents a compromising alternative: a separate crib in the same room. She says it provides a safer environment for the child while also emitting a better sense of security.