The fight to save UPMC Braddock from closure will most likely turn into a nasty public relations war with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an attempt to shame the giant health provider into keeping the hospital open, a group of residents, community activists and union organizers said yesterday.

A group of about 60 stood with protest signs at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Grant Street, Downtown, in front of UPMC headquarters in the U.S. Steel Tower. Led by Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, the group sought to portray UPMC officials as a contemptible and callous bunch whose actions with regard to UPMC Braddock border on the criminal.

"UPMC's board is Braddock's death panel," stated a sign that Mr. Fetterman donned over his 6-foot, 8-inch frame. The sentiment of his placard, he said, may seem somewhat over-the-top, but it symbolized everything that is wrong with access to healthcare -- or lack thereof -- particularly in low-income and mostly African-American communities.

"Americans should not be afraid of government intervention in health care. They should be afraid of entities like UPMC who can behave in whatever way they choose, even if they are a quasi-public entity," said Mr. Fetterman.

And that, for the most part, was the consensus of the protestors, many of whom donned or waved similar signs that aired passionate sentiments like "UPMC CEO needs a heart transplant," "Health care, not wealth care," "UPMC, a nonprofit?" and "UPMC is a four-letter word."

"The gloves are off," said Mr. Fetterman, who initially called for patience and understanding of the health provider's decision when it announced last month plans to close the 123-bed hospital at the end of January.

However, since then, Mr. Fetterman said, UPMC has not behaved as "the good neighbor" he had cautioned the community against turning into a villain.

"They decided to blame the victims and to lie that we didn't use the hospital much, yet even the State Department health records show that we have a high occupancy rate compared to their other hospitals in the county," said Mr. Fetterman.

Citing an ongoing decline of the numbers of Braddock area residents who use the hospital, UPMC announced last month it would close the hospital it has operated for 13 years and that has served the community for more than 100 years.

However, state records show that Braddock Hospital's occupancy last year was 72.4 percent, higher than six other Allegheny County hospitals, including UPMC Mercy, West Penn, Heritage Valley in Sewickley and Ohio Valley.

And now, Mr. Fetterman added, what was once a relationship based on mutual trust and goodwill has been marred by feelings of "outrage, disgust, and sadness," over the decisions of UPMC officials whom Mr. Fetterman and others wholly described as "greedy and arrogant."

But UPMC spokesman Paul Wood countered: "When you consider UPMC's deep commitment to the community -- the more than $500 million spent annually in uncompensated care, donations to community health programs and for research and education ... It's clear there's not another health system that does more for its region than UPMC."

As a frigid drizzle momentarily turned into ice drops, yesterday, Patrick Minnaji, a Port Authority worker who lives in East Pittsburgh pointed to the top of the Steel Tower and asked: "Where is their heart?

"Why do they choose to turn away from the poor, and when will they stop and listen to us and our need for an essential community hospital?" Mr. Minnaji said, adding that he showed up to protest against UPMC in the memory of his mother who died at the Braddock facility in August.

"We think we will be seen more here than in Braddock," said Steffi Domike or Squirrel Hill, a member of the United Steelworkers. "We want the public to know that UPMC is shamelessly turning its back on Braddock."

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