Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette
	Allegheny General Hospital, viewed from the top of the U.S. Steel Tower, is an imposing presence on the North Side.

Western Pennsylvania enjoys a complete range of medical care and wellness resources, from research laboratories to world-renowned human transplant centers.

HOSPITALS
Allegheny General Hospital, 320 E. North Ave., North Side, 412-359-3131, www.wpahs.org. This 675-bed academic hospital is part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. Level I Shock Trauma Center, LifeFlight aeromedical service, sports medicine program. Specialties: allergy/immunology, anesthesiology/pain medicine, bariatric/weight loss surgery, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, critical care medicine, dental medicine, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery and minimally invasive surgery, geriatric medicine, infectious disease, internal medicine, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, nutrition, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, pathology and laboratory medicine, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, plastic and reconstructive surgery, psychiatry, pulmonary medicine, radiology, rheumatology, transplant surgery, urology and vascular surgery.

Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus, 100 S. Jackson Ave., Bellevue, 412-734-6000, www.wpahs.org/sgh/. This 154-bed community hospital in the West Penn Allegheny Health System recently merged with the North Side flagship Allegheny General and is undergoing $5 million in renovations. As part of the merger, the suburban campus now is the venue for most hip and knee replacements that had been done at Allegheny General. The hospital also offers cardiac and pulmonary services, gastroenterology, geriatrics programs, a 40-bed rehab unit, advanced pain management and a sleep disorders clinic.

Alle-Kiski Medical Center, 1301 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights, 724-224-5100, www.wpahs.org. Part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. Includes the 258-bed Allegheny Valley Hospital and Citizens Ambulatory Care Center in New Kensington. The hospital provides medical, surgical and emergency care, as well as inpatient psychiatry, cardiology, obstetrics, oncology, orthopedics and sports medicine. The ambulatory care center handles minor emergencies, ambulatory surgery and endoscopy, cardiology diagnostics, radiology, laboratory services, outpatient chemotherapy and outpatient surgery.

Canonsburg General Hospital, 100 Medical Blvd., Canonsburg, 724-745-6100, www.wpahs.org. The 104-bed facility is part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. Specialties: ambulatory care and emergency medicine services, acute inpatient rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization lab, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational medicine, home care programs, gastroenterology, chemotherapy, pain management and sleep studies. Does not offer pediatrics or obstetrics.

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Ave., Oakland, 412-692-5325, www.chp.edu. Specialties: Accredited Level 1 regional resource pediatric trauma center, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, critical care medicine, diabetes/endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, neurosurgery, organ and tissue transplantation, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, pulmonology, rheumatology and urology.

The Children's Institute, 6301 Northumberland St., Squirrel Hill, 412-420-2400, www.amazingkids.org. Provides recovery, rehabilitation and education services for children who are recovering from injury or illness or who have special needs. Includes 22-bed inpatient pediatric unit and 17-bed inpatient unit for Prader-Willi Syndrome/Behavioral Disorders Program. Operates Project STAR, an adoption, foster care and family preservation program for children with special needs. Outpatient programs and day school serve 224 children with neurological impairment or cerebral palsy. Offers outpatient pediatric therapy at satellite sites in Wexford, Monroeville and Green Tree.

Forbes Regional Hospital, 2570 Haymaker Road, Monroeville, 412-858-2000, www.wpahs.org. A 347-bed community-based hospital that is part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. Has an affiliate office of the Joslin Diabetes Center. Specialties: ambulatory surgery, mental health care, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, emergency medicine, neurosciences, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology including hospice care, orthopedics, pediatrics, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals, HealthSouth Harmarville, Guys Run Road, Indiana Township, 412-828-1300; HealthSouth Greater Pittsburgh, 2880 McGinley Road, Monroeville, 412-856-2400; HealthSouth Sewickley, 303 Camp Meeting Road, Leet, 412- 741-9500; www.healthsouth.com. Rehabilitation and long-term acute care hospitals that treat brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, back and spinal cord injuries, cancer, pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, traumatic and work injuries. HealthSouth also has several outpatient rehabilitation centers.

Jefferson Regional Medical Center, 565 Coal Valley Road, Jefferson Hills, 412-469-5000, www.jeffersonregional.com. Specialties include cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and orthopedics. Jefferson is the only area medical center recognized by The Economic and Social Research Institute for quality and cost. In 2002, the medical center began an open-heart program and built a state-of-the-art 10-bed cardiovascular unit and 20-bed intensive care unit. Jefferson is currently expanding its emergency department and surgery center and building a new pharmacy.

Latrobe Area Hospital, 121 W. Second Ave., Latrobe, 724-537-1000, www.lah.com. In July 2004, Latrobe Area Hospital merged with Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant and Westmoreland Regional Hospital in Greensburg to form Excela Health. Excela operates the Arnold Palmer Pavilion with the UPMC Cancer Center At Mountain View Medical Park.

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Inc., 225 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg, 412-247-2424, www.lifecare-hospitals.com. The former Forbes Metropolitan Hospital has operated since August 1999 as part of the network of 20 LifeCare hospitals based in Plano, Texas. In Wilkinsburg, 49 beds are in a locked unit dedicated to behavioral health treatment for adult and geriatric patients. The facility also has 106 beds to provide specialized care for seriously ill patients. Average length of stay is 26 days. The facility draws patients from 20 Pennsylvania counties and from out of state.

	John Beale, Post-Gazette
	The Allegheny County Health Department is charged with handling myriad public health problems. Flu shot season drew a crowd to its offices on Forbes Avenue in Oakland.

The Medical Center, Beaver, 1000 Dutch Ridge Road, Brighton, 724-728-7000, www.heritagevalley.org. The 358-bed medical center is part of the Heritage Valley Health System, serving southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and the West Virginia panhandle. It provides a broad range of surgical and diagnostic services, including open-heart surgery. It operates a school of radiology jointly with Sewickley Valley Hospital.

Mercy Hospital, 1400 Locust St., Uptown, 412-232-8111, www.mercylink.org. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1847, this hospital is the flagship of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. Specialties: cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, cancer care, level 1 trauma and burn treatment, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, diabetes care, neurosciences, senior services and home health. The hospital also operates several SmartHealth outpatient centers in the region.

Mercy Hospital: North Shore Campus, 1004 Arch St., North Side, 412-323-5600. This site recently was converted to a full-service psychiatric facility that includes a 24-hour evaluation and referral center for behavioral health emergencies, inpatient adult behavioral health, psychiatric care for older adults, and treatment for people with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Mercy Jeannette Hospital, 600 Jefferson Ave., Jeannette, 724-527-3551. This 148-bed Catholic acute care hospital, formerly known as Jeannette District Memorial Hospital, became affiliated with Mercy in November 2002.

Ohio Valley Hospital, 25 Heckel Road, Kennedy. 412-777-6161, www.ohiovalleyhospital.org. This is a 119-bed, not-for-profit hospital affiliated with Quorum Health Resources Inc. Specialties include an orthopedic care center, wound and diabetes care, pain treatment, cardiac catherization, cardiac fitness, eye care and surgery, sleep evaluation, senior services. Operates school of nursing and with LaRoche College offers a radiology program.

Sewickley Valley Hospital, 720 Blackburn Road, Sewickley, 412-741-6600, www.heritage valley.org. This 191-bed hospital is part of the Heritage Valley Health System. Sewickley Valley provides comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties. It provides a broad range of surgical and diagnostic services, including bariatric surgery. Staunton Clinic, a community-based psychiatric outpatient facility, also is located at the hospital, as well as schools of nursing and radiology.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St., Oakland, 1-800-533-UPMC (8762), www.upmc.com. Specialties: transplantations, human genetics, sports medicine and orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, psychiatry, Level I trauma center, neurology, neurosurgery, geriatrics, endocrinology, pulmonary medicine, dermatology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, physical therapy and rehabilitation. UPMC in Oakland includes UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Montefiore, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Falk Medical Building, and the Eye & Ear Hospital.

UPMC Affiliates:

Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 300 Halket St., Oakland, 412-641-1000, www.magee.edu. Founded in 1911, this hospital is the premier provider of obstetrical and neonatal care in the region. Among its services: acute care, oncology, lifelong care of women, weight management and bariatrics, special center for women with disabilities. Research and teaching center. Services also offered through regional Womancare and outpatient clinics.

UPMC Braddock, 400 Holland Ave., Braddock, 412-636-5000, www.upmc.com. Specialties: chemical dependency/detoxification, psychiatric services, geriatric psychiatry, outpatient chemotherapy clinic, emergency medicine, orthopedics, coronary and medical/surgical care, intensive care, same-day surgery, progressive care center.

UPMC McKeesport, 1500 Fifth Ave., McKeesport, 412-664-2000, www.upmc.com. Specialties: oncology, geriatric services, psychiatry, physical medicine, cardiac services, gynecology, pediatrics, skilled nursing, pulmonary medicine, diabetes treatment/education, emergency services.

UPMC Passavant, 9100 Babcock Blvd., McCandless, 412-367-6700, www.upmc.com. Specialties: cancer and cardiac care, emergency medicine, gynecology, women's health, orthopedics, pulmonary medicine. Also has a Cranberry location.

UPMC Rehabilitation Hospital, 1405 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-420-2345, http://rehabhospital.upmc.com. Specialties: head and spinal cord injuries, strokes and spasticity treatment.

UPMC St. Margaret, 815 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, 412-784-4000, www.upmc.com. Specialties: arthritis, rehabilitation, general and orthopedic surgery, family practice, emergency medicine, gerontology, oncology, weight loss surgery, complete outpatient care.

UPMC Shadyside, 5230 Centre Ave., Shadyside, 412-623-2121, http://shadyside.upm c.com. Specialties: primary care, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, women's health services, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, geriatric services, endocrinology, gastroenterology, sinus surgery, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, obstetrics/gynecology.

Hillman Cancer Center, 5115 Centre Ave., Shadyside, 412-647-2811, www.upmccancercenters.com/hcc/. A full range of outpatient cancer diagnostic and treatment programs is available, including multidisciplinary clinics for melanoma and cancers of the head and neck, colon, lung and brain. A pedestrian bridge connects the center with a radiation oncology center and the cancer inpatient unit at UPMC Shadyside.

UPMC South Side, 2000 Mary St., South Side, 412-488-5550, southside.upmc.com. Specialties: acute medical/surgical care, psychiatry, physical/occupational/speech therapy, geriatric services, emergency care, occupational medicine, sub-acute care.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive, Oakland, 1-866-482-7488, www.va.gov/pittsburgh. The local VA healthcare system has three divisions that were consolidated in October 1996 to serve 360,000 veterans in the region. In addition, it operates community outpatient clinics in Greensburg, Aliquippa, Washington and St. Clairsville, Ohio. In mid-2004, the Veterans Health Administration was reviewing a plan to close the Highland Drive facility and transfer its services to expanded Oakland and O'Hara locations. If approved, such a move would not be completed until 2009 or later. Here are the three divisions:

University Drive, Oakland, 1-866-482-7488. An acute care facility that provides the bulk of medical and surgical care, with 146 operating beds, and a large primary-care outpatient clinic. This facility is one of four kidney and liver transplant centers in the national Veterans Affairs system.

Highland Drive, East Liberty, 1-866-482-7488. Provides psychiatric and other services. It also has an adult day care health center.

H.J. Heinz III Progressive Care Center, O'Hara, 1-866-482-7488. This Geriatric Center of Excellence has 336 beds, of which 50 are designated for dementia patients and 36 are for hospice and palliative care.

The Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Ave., Washington, 724-225-7000, www.washington hospital.org. This community hospital has 248 beds, in addition to a 17-bed transitional care unit, a 16-bed acute rehabilitation unit, a 16-bassinet nursery and an 8-bed residential hospice. Its services include cardiac, cancer and women's health care, as well as interdisciplinary children's therapy.

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, 4800 Friendship Ave., Bloomfield, 412-578-5000, www.wpahs.org. Part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System, West Penn is a 524-bed, tertiary-care medical center serving people in Pittsburgh and the Tri-State region. Among its services, it has the largest burn trauma center in the region, has a national affiliate of Boston's Joslin Diabetes Center and has earned national recognition for its bone marrow transplant program. It also has the second-largest obstetrics, neonatal and women's health programs in the region. Its Institute for Computer-Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery and Joint Care Center offers comprehensive care. The hospital also offers a bariatric surgery center addressing a multidisciplinary approach to weight-loss. West Penn is a clinical campus for the Temple University School of Medicine and offers numerous undergraduate and graduate medical education programs.

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara St., Oakland, 412-624-2100 or 1-877-624-4100, wpic.upmc.com. Specialties: adult mood disorders, adult chemical dependency and psychiatric problems, geriatrics, adult schizophrenia, adolescent suicide, childhood and adolescent affective illness, child and adolescent multiple disabilities, eating disorders, childhood attention deficit and/or conduct disorder, psychiatric ramifications of childhood chronic illness, 24-hour emergency department.

Westmoreland Health System is in the process of reorganizing after it was announced in November 2003 that Westmoreland Regional and Latrobe Area hospitals would merge to stem operating losses and rising costs. The system includes:

Westmoreland Regional Hospital, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, 724-832-4000, www.westmoreland.org. Acute care facility offering cardiac, cancer care, women's and children's care, rehabilitation services and primary care network.

Frick Hospital & Community Health Center, 508 S. Church St., Mt. Pleasant, 724-547-1500. A 160-bed facility serving southern Westmoreland and northern Fayette counties.

OTHER HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
Allegheny County Health Department, 3333 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-687-ACHD (2243), www.achd.net. This agency works to ensure the health and safety of the county's 1.2 million residents and carries out mandates by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A director and nine-member governing board oversee the department. Public health programs: air quality, food safety, infectious disease, safe housing, public drinking water/waste management, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease clinics, HIV programs, chronic disease and injury prevention, lead poisoning prevention and WIC nutrition program. Vaccination clinic, offering seasonal influenza shots and shots needed for foreign travel, is at 3441 Forbes Ave., Oakland.

Allegheny County Medical Society, 713 Ridge Ave., North Side, 412-321-5030, www. acms.org. The organization, affiliated with the Pennsylvania and American medical societies, is an advocacy group representing local physicians. Among public services, it provides physician referral services, physician speakers, living will and health care power of attorney forms and patient information.

CONTACT Pittsburgh Inc., www.contactpgh. org, offers crisis and suicide hot line and other emotional support services by telephone. Founded in 1971 to help people of all ages who may be suicidal, in emotional distress or in need of reassurance, information or referral services. Main hot lines: Crisis and Suicide, 412-820-HELP; Student and Young Adult Line, 412-820-HELP; KidsLine Phone Pals, 1-800-578-5100; Reassurance for Seniors, 412-820-0100; Anti-Hate hot line, 412-820-0111; Public Inquiry (activated only during a disaster) 412-423-0202 .

Family Health Council Inc., Suite 1000, Kossman Building, Forbes and Stanwix, Downtown, 412-288-2140, www.fhcinc.org. Founded in 1971, this service operates several medical offices and partners with more than 20 other health care services to provide health care at more than 70 sites in the region. Also provides the Family Adoption Center, 960 Penn Ave., Suite 600, Downtown, 412-288-2130. Among the council's services: family planning, birth control, pregnancy care, women's health services, STD testing/treatment, cancer screening, HIV/AIDS prevention, nutrition services and counseling (including WIC programs), education and prevention. Insurance accepted, sliding fee scale. Also conducts research and advocacy campaigns.

Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative, 650 Smithfield St., Centre City Tower Suite 2400, Downtown, 412-586-6700, www. prhi.org. This private, nonprofit consortium is made up of institutions and people who provide, purchase, insure and support health care services in the region. Among its goals is to create a superior health system here. It has put together systems for collecting information on medical errors to improve care.

Self Help Group Network, 412-255-1155, provides a database for 1,000 support groups in southwestern Pennsylvania. It is a service of HelpLine, a referral and information service offered by the United Way of Allegheny County and CONTACT Pittsburgh.

BLOOD DRIVES/PROVIDERS
American Red Cross, Greater Alleghenies Region, based in Johnstown, Cambria County, 1-800-993-6667. Serves the VA Medical Center in Oakland and hospitals in surrounding counties.

Central Blood Bank, 812 Fifth Ave., Uptown, 1-866-DONORS-1, www.centralbloodbank.org. Founded in 1951 by a group of Pittsburgh doctors, the blood bank is a nonprofit organization that provides blood products and transfusion services to more than 40 hospitals in Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. It is the primary supplier of blood products in Allegheny County.

For up-to-date coverage, log on to www.post-gazette.com/healthscience.

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