Western Pennsylvania Healthcare News

Covering healthcare news in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

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The Wait is Over, Hamilton is Coming

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New five-story tower will begin construction

Providence Point will officially break ground on residential living space, Hamilton Tower, the long-awaited five-story building with 70 apartments and 10 new floor plans.

Hamilton Tower, the major phase of an expansion on the Providence Point campus, slated for occupancy in the summer of 2019, will break ground on May 30 with a ceremony beginning at 10 a.m.

After several years of planning and refining, the time has come to begin the 15-month project. There are a variety of floor plans available, ranging in size from 888 sq. ft. to almost 1,900 sq. ft., to suit just about anyone’s needs. There are one and two bedroom options, one and two bath, two bedroom with den, pet-friendly and pet-free apartments.  All have a balcony or patio, and have some upgrades available, including a smart-home option.

Two-thirds of the new apartments are already reserved, and are easily accessible to all of Providence Point’s amenities. All floorplans, and much more, are available for viewing on the Providence Point website, where you can take a virtual tour to see more of the community. [Read more…]

An Architect’s Perspective: Building a Smarter Patient Journey

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By Tami Greene, AIA, NCARB

Now, more than ever, the quality of Healthcare Design is measured and rewarded on the basis of patient satisfaction. As a result of the Affordable Care Act, healthcare continues to evolve into a consumer commodity; where proactive patients require facilities that integrate with today’s culture of empowerment and choice around the services we choose.

Many healthcare providers may fall short in meeting that need without considering the use of technology throughout every stage of the care continuum.  Technology can greet patients at home even before their first face to face encounter with hospital staff and guide them seamlessly through their appointment or hospital stay.

In turn, investing in smart technology will not only improve the patient experience, but it also creates a more streamlined process for staff. As a healthcare designer, I often find myself asking, “why wouldn’t you?”

At Home

One rapidly growing trend that incorporates technology into the patient experience before and after visits is the use of patient portals. According to CDW’s ‘2017 Patient Engagement Perspective Study,’ there has been a 30% increase in patient signup for portals from 2016 to 2017 for a total of 74% of patients surveyed reporting that they were registered with a healthcare portal. 


The success of portals depends on the proactive measures taken by hospitals to ensure patient understanding of what a portal has to offer. First, patients must be educated as to what the portal is, how it benefits them, and how to sign up.  This education should start by the practice engaging the patient during an office visit; even offering a hands-on tutorial.

At that time, they can also ask the patient if they would like to enroll or schedule someone to contact them.  Second, the interface must be easy to use. Finally, the information available through the portal should be appropriate and relevant to the patient. [Read more…]

Allegheny General Hospital Unveils 48-bed Critical Care/Telemetry Unit for Cardiovascular Patients

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Facility is Centerpiece of Major Renovation Project Underway at AHN Flagship

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Highmark Health officials today celebrated the completion of a new facility at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) that will provide cardiovascular patients with access to 48 private beds in a state-of-the-art setting, including 24 critical care beds and a 24-bed monitored step down unit.

Located on the 11th floor of AGH’s Snyder Pavilion, the $26 million project is part of a major initiative underway to improve and modernize the infrastructure of the hospital and further advance its capabilities as AHN’s flagship quaternary medical center.

The new cardiovascular unit at AGH is expected to begin admitting patients next week and will primarily be used by those who require intensive care and around-the-clock monitoring for conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, and cardiac dysrhythmias.

“AGH and its exceptional clinicians have long been recognized for providing the highest quality of care for those with cardiovascular and other complex diseases,” said Michael Harlovic, Chief Executive Officer of AGH.  “Today is a great day for our hospital, our patients and the community, and we are extremely grateful to the leadership at AHN and Highmark for their investment in these critical resources and their commitment to excellence in everything we do.” [Read more…]

Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals For Dummies

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jeff and dale back to backBy Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield – The Lease Coach

Each year in North America, approximately two million business owners, entrepreneurs, retailers, franchisees, and healthcare professionals negotiate a lease renewal for their location. Perhaps that’s why negotiating lease renewals for tenants has become The Lease Coach’s specialty. Many healthcare tenants make costly mistakes on their first lease agreement, and if they’re not careful, may continue to pay the price for those mistakes in their lease-renewal term. 

Each year, we speak with hundreds of tenants who attend The Lease Coach seminars or contact us directly for lease-renewal assistance. Considering that the average healthcare tenant only negotiates a couple of leases in their lifetime, it’s easy to understand how leasing myths can persist. Occasionally these myths are created and propagated by the landlord, but also by real estate professionals looking to serve their own interests. The following myths are the most common.

[Read more…]

What Is The Healthcare Facility Model In 2014?

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By Scott Hazlett, AIA, ACHA, EDAC

Healthcare delivery has been changing rapidly over the last 10 years in our local region and across the country. The traditional healthcare points of delivery that included the community hospital, the hospital owned outpatient clinic and the physician-owned doctor’s office are quickly fading into the past as the healthcare model evolves. 

What is the healthcare facility model in 2014 and the future? What is driving this rapid change that is altering the healthcare delivery model that we have known most of our lives? There are no simple answers to these questions because of the many influences creating these changes: healthcare insurance and changes in reimbursement; mergers and acquisitions; facilities that look like luxury hotels;  healthcare campuses that look more like a college campus; healthcare available at your local Walmart or Walgreen’s for convenience; high-end rehabilitation facilities that are close to home; retirement communities that offer many levels of care including independent living, assisted living, nursing home care and hospice care all in one place; home healthcare that comes to you; and home monitoring that allows you dial in and download for medical care in your own home. This list could go on and on, but you get the idea. 

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A Guide to Managing the Off-Campus Facility Move

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Marisa Manley--President--CTRRBy Marisa Manley

There is a strong trend among hospitals and medical/healthcare complexes to move high-demand healthcare services, such as urgent care, ambulatory care, and primary care, to smaller, dispersed, easily accessible locations.

An off-campus facility can be a branch or affiliate of the hospital or leased by the hospital to doctors who operate the site as independent practitioners.  Often, a portion of the facility, such as an urgent care center, is branded and operated by the hospital.

Here is a guide to planning and managing an off-campus move.

Why move off campus?

An off-campus move can help increase patient counts, build market share, and improve visibility among prospective patients.  A hospital may put a facility in a community to increase the hospital’s visibility and provide needed services.  When patients use the facility, they think well of the hospital and return in the future.  In addition, the ambulatory care facility may become an entry point for services which reside in the hospital – either because they are more specialized or because they require in-patient care.
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Office Space for the Healthcare Professional

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With so many professionals and organizations associated with the healthcare industry today, it’s no wonder that there is an equally broad array of office space to suit their varying needs.  Below are a few possibilities whether you’re a physician, a home care administrator, a healthcare student or an insurance provider.

You could locate your office in a bustling business park; one that is in a suburban setting, yet at the center of a nexus of companies, such as the Southpointe Business Park.  There are many Class A office buildings to choose from here, all of which benefit from free parking.  This is a key amenity for patients and tenants.

An office in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh might be what you’re looking for.  There are many upscale options in properties such as Piatt Place and The Gardens at Market Square, where you can easily cater to certain clientele.  A ‘green’, LEED-certified building might be the way to go.  Sustainable redevelopments are the focus of new developments in the city with an eye toward helping revive Pittsburgh’s central business district.

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Controlling Costs on Construction Projects

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By Marisa Manley

Physical elements of your healthcare facility – whether created through new construction, expansion, or renovation – can help attract patients and provide the community with superior care.  But without good planning and execution, hospital executives are likely to endure excessive costs and delays with possibly diminished patient relations and to end up with an inadequate facility.

The first step in  proper planning is to choose a project team that can work effectively together.  Team members include hospital executives, the project manager, the architect/ engineering group responsible for design and for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems (MEP), and the general contractor (GC).

Your team must have clear objectives, communicate them clearly, and make timely decisions.  Your project manager, sometimes called an “owners rep,” must coordinate and manage the architect/engineer and GC, monitor schedule and budget, be first-responder for unexpected situations, and lead weekly team meetings.

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Weighing the Real Estate Options: How to Cost-Effectively Lease, Expand and Build Facilities for the Future

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By Marisa Manley

A crucial by-product of the healthcare boom is the high cost of occupying real estate, now the second or third largest expense, after personnel and insurance, for general and specialty medical practices, hospital groups, and diagnostic labs.

In Western Pennsylvania, once the steel industry hub but now a center for health care and education, today’s high vacancy rates for medical office space have opened the door for sweetheart deals on new leases.  But the watchword is always caution.

Owners of buildings and properties are always looking to put themselves at an advantage in any lease agreement, so facility managers who want to reduce risk and get the greatest value out of their real estate must start the process early, define needs and goals, and use all the power of alternatives.

It is important to create a detailed project plan, schedule anticipated resources and estimate the costs of each phase.  It is also critical to establish firm criteria for site selection including size, location, price range, and whether the property is to be leased or purchased.

[Read more…]

Office Space for Rent

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If your business or practice is thinking of adding another location or wishing to relocate, you may want to take a look at two properties that are priced right—one in the Churchhill area and the other in the Oakland area. It’s perfect for a small practice or any healthcare-related business. Click on their ad to learn more about these properties from McKinney Properties.