While waiting for approval, WPAHS chief maps revival
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West Penn Allegheny Health System's Keith Ghezzi
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The West Penn Allegheny Health System hopes to get regulatory approval for its affiliation with insurer Highmark by the fall and, if that goes through, it expects to be on solid financial footing within two to three years, interim president and CEO Keith T. Ghezzi said Thursday.
But the new West Penn chief cautioned that getting there will require incremental steps, starting with the expected reopening of West Penn Hospital's emergency department in Bloomfield by the end of March and continuing efforts to recruit more physicians.
Dr. Ghezzi, who took the position three months ago and met with reporters at the system's North Side offices on Thursday to discuss the status of the planned turnaround of West Penn, said the health system is "very close" to announcing some key medical staff hires who also will help get the changes on track.
In the past month, he said, the health system's executives have met with state Department of Insurance officials to discuss the planned affiliation with Highmark, the region's largest insurer that has committed $475 million to stabilize the ailing health system.
"We're hearing that they want to do a comprehensive and thorough review" and expect to hold public hearings in the spring, he said.
Dr. Ghezzi said the health system has asked state officials to move as quickly as possible, noting West Penn's goal is to have the necessary approvals by September.
Meanwhile, he said WPAHS is moving ahead with streamlining its operations, looking at ways to reduce costs in back office areas such as human resources once it joins forces with Highmark. "Being more efficient," he emphasized, "does not necessarily mean cutting. It means flexing as much as possible. We have to be nimble."
In fact, in addition to returning West Penn to full power, Dr. Ghezzi said the management may look at reopening the emergency room at its Suburban campus in Bellevue. "I think each of our hospitals will play a role."
First Published February 3, 2012 12:00 am
