The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's decision to stand fast to its decision to close UPMC Braddock has anger stewing and frustration growing in Braddock.

And that pent-up emotion could overflow at 5 p.m. today during a community meeting with UPMC officials in the Professional Services Building of UPMC Braddock., where they will discuss the Jan. 31 closing of the 123-bed hospital.

"I expect there to be a lot of people there loaded for bear, but I want people to respect the process," said Braddock Mayor John Fetterman. "I wouldn't dare try to spin it as anything but a very unfortunate development that will leave a lot of people angry in the community."

Everybody he's talked to in the borough of 2,700 people is angry, he said.

"I'm angry, too, but I would like to see something constructive and beneficial for the community," he said. "My anger is tempered with the knowledge that UPMC tried to make a go of it for 13 years and has been a community partner, and I'm hoping they can help support Braddock in the future."

His optimism was tempered somewhat by UPMC's abrupt announcement Friday about its intentions. Even County Executive Dan Onorato said he learned about the closing the night before.

"They could have handled this so much better," Mr. Fetterman said. "I have to swallow my pride and ego and my anger on how they handled this and try to find a positive impact for the community."

Activists and health care advocates said they will protest the closure, and even suggested actions of civil disobedience. They have yet to work out details to protest the closing.

David Hughes, executive director of Citizen Power, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on energy and health care, said the hospital closing shows why private companies should not control energy, health care and public utilities, including water service.

For now, he said, government has no say or control over such decisions, which often have the greatest impact on poor communities.

"All of us involved in health care advocacy are outraged by this," Mr. Hughes said. "We will not just stand by. At the very least, we will expose UPMC for what it is: It is not a health care delivery system but a profit-making vulture."

Mr. Fetterman said he is not encouraging protests, but he is calling for UPMC to help the borough overcome the impact of the closing. "I want to keep the dialogue positive and note the contributions UPMC made to Braddock and hope for the best," he said.

Yesterday, UPMC President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey A. Romoff met with U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, Mr. Onorato and Mr. Fetterman, among others, to discuss the closing. The meeting lasted more than two hours and turned passionate and even contentious at times, according to Mr. Doyle and Mr. Onorato.

But both said Mr. Romoff said UPMC is solid with its decision to close UPMC Braddock, while assuring that most of the 652 employees will land jobs at other UPMC facilities.

"We all realize that Braddock Hospital doesn't make money, but UPMC is a nonprofit with a community mission," said Mr. Doyle. "For an hour and a half we were looking for ways to turn it around and keep Braddock Hospital open."

Upon realizing that UPMC officials "were pretty entrenched in their decision," he said the argument turned to getting a commitment that all employees would be offered jobs in the UPMC system.

Mr. Doyle and Mr. Onorato said Mr. Romoff did agree to help find an alternative use for the 277,000-square-foot hospital building and beef up outpatient services and other medical services in Braddock to help offset the impact.

"It was a disappointing meeting, and we didn't get what we were looking for," Mr. Doyle said, noting severe challenges many Braddock residents will face in traveling elsewhere for medical care. "It was a very emotional meeting at times, and we expressed a strong desire to hang onto the hospital in this unique area of Braddock."

Paul Wood, UPMC vice president of public relations, said the "very productive meeting" involved going over the facts behind the decision, including declining patient population that over the weekend dipped to 31 -- half the average population documented just four months ago and far below numbers from years past.

For that reason, Mr. Wood said, "The argument for closing it is pretty clear cut."

But the hospital closing will bolster UPMC McKeesport and UPMC Mercy. There absolutely are no plans to close UPMC McKeesport, Mr. Wood said.

Meanwhile, plenty of openings exist for Braddock employees, with anticipation that 80 to 90 percent will remain with UPMC.

"We're going to work with the community on how best to dispose of, or redevelop, the building and land," Mr. Wood said. "We are open to options. If community leaders can determine what to do with it, we will work with them 100 percent."

Mr. Onorato discounted claims that reconstruction of the Rankin Bridge and Tri-Boro Expressway hurt UPMC Braddock's patient census. Instead, he said brownfield developments including the old Carrie Furnace redevelopment project promise new jobs and development that would bolster the census.

Mr. Onorato said he stood outside the hospital just last year when UPMC officials announced renovation plans. "And now they're closing," he said. "To say that I'm shocked and surprised is an understatement."

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