West Penn Allegheny Health System at one time was one of the prominent healthcare providers in Pittsburgh. As a new health system emerged (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) and monopolized the city, WPAHS was smothered by the predatory tactics used to gain market share. As a healthcare executive working in the city and watching what was happening, I was disgusted to see how UPMC could monopolize and manipulate the healthcare delivery system.
One dominant system cannot provide the services needed for a city of that size and at times overbedded in duplicated services. Both systems have excellent services and physicians, and patients should have a choice of where they want to receive their care. Highmark is doing the right thing by attempting to bail out a failing system. West Penn Allegheny needs to remain in the landscape of providing excellent care to the citizens of this great city.
Geno Bonetti
Austin, Texas
