BELLEVUE, Pa.,None — Changes could be coming to a local hospital.
Channel 11's news exchanger partners at TribLive reported that the West Penn Allegheny Health System is considering whether to eliminate inpatient services at Allegheny General Hospital's Suburban campus in Bellevue.
There are no plans to close the hospital, but shutting down inpatient services would mean closure of the hospital's emergency room, a West Penn Allegheny spokeswoman said.
Pennsylvania law requires that a hospital offer inpatient services if it operates an emergency department.
The spokeswoman said they are just beginning to look at the issue.
Although West Penn Allegheny posted a $7 million net profit for the first half of fiscal year 2010, its net losses total more than $80 million for the past two fiscal years, TribLive reported.
Officials have met recently with politicians and community groups in Bellevue, Avalon, Ben Avon, Kilbuck and other communities to talk about Suburban, the spokeswoman said.
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