Alle-Kiski medical center gets new president, CEO

Ned Laubacher, vice president for operations and strategic services at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., since 2005, has been named president and CEO of Alle-Kiski Medical Center, part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. Mr. Laubacher will assume his duties on Feb. 1. Mr. Laubacher previously was COO for PricewaterhouseCoopers Healthcare Consulting Practice. Michael Harlovic, who had been holding the position at AKMC on an interim basis, will remain with the hospital as Vice President for Patient Services.

West Penn, AGH named premium cardiac centers

Insurance provider UnitedHealth has named Allegheny General Hospital and The Western Pennsylvania Hospital as Premium Cardiac Specialty Centers. The designation program identifies cardiac, surgical spine, and total joint replacement facilities that meet specific criteria and recognizes them for their commitment to quality health care. Both hospitals are members of the West Penn Allegheny Health System.

PG offering more buyout packages

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday offered another voluntary separation package to its unionized newsroom employees as part of ongoing cost-cutting moves. Twenty-three employees accepted a buyout package last week. The new offer was extended to about 195 writers, editors, artists, photographers and others who belong to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh. The employees have until Dec. 31 to accept the offer.

GE to stop offering earnings forecasts

General Electric Co. affirmed its 2008 outlook yesterday but did not provide any specific earnings per share targets for next year and said it will drop its practice of giving quarterly earnings forecasts. GE also said it plans to continue paying a dividend next year, offering investors 31 cents per share each quarter during 2009.

Goldman Sachs: First loss as public company

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. yesterday reported its first quarterly loss since it went public in 1999, losing $2.29 billion during its fiscal fourth quarter, but investors seemed unfazed and sent its shares higher. The loss proves the turmoil in the financial markets has tripped up even the best-run financial institutions. The Wall Street firm lost $4.97 per share in the quarter ended Nov. 30, compared with earnings of $3.17 billion, or $7.01 per share, last year.

Also in business ...

Law firm Dickie McCamey & Chilcote will assist low-income residents of Millvale with free legal services through a new program at the Millvale Wellness Center Community Clinic. Residents can apply at the center. The program was launched by the Sisters of St. Francis and Neighborhood Legal Services Association. ... Fighting to stay in business, the Detroit News and Free Press will cut home delivery to three days a week, printing small editions on other days and encouraging people to get information online. ... Best Buy Co. Inc. offered voluntary severance packages to virtually all its 4,000 corporate employees yesterday as the consumer electronics chain announced its third-quarter profit skidded 77 percent.