MONROEVILLE—(ENEWSPF)—June 29, 2012. On Monday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., members of Save Our Community Hospitals (SOCH) will be joined by Occupy Pittsburgh in a protest at the new UPMC East hospital in Monroeville. July 2 is the first day of operation at UPMC East.
Demonstrators will call attention to the obvious hypocrisy of UPMC, a not-for-profit organization, claiming “Community Commitment,” where “we maintain an unwavering commitment to our nonprofit mission of delivering outstanding patient care while fueling the development of a brighter economic future.” All the while, UPMC was closing a hospital in the underserved, economically struggling community of Braddock, and building a new hospital less than a mile from the already established Forbes Regional hospital.
For the cost of the new UPMC East, UPMC could have kept UPMC Braddock open for 40 more years. In addition, UPMC annually loses nearly double the amount of money at its Beacon hospital in Ireland than it claims to have lost at UPMC Braddock.
UPMC says they’re “deeply committed to the Western Pennsylvania region” but SOCH and OCCUPY Pittsburgh intend to expose the fact that UPMC is only committed to profits.
Where: UPMC East, Monroeville
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 2
Who: Save Our Community Hospitals and Occupy Pittsburgh
What: A Rally and Picket Demonstration
Source: www.OccupyPittsburgh.org
