UPMC East in Monroeville celebrates 10-year anniversary

Staff and board members gathered at UPMC East to celebrate a “Decade of Excellence” on June 27.

On July 2, 2012, UPMC East opened in Monroeville in an effort to give nearby residents access to quality health care without having to travel to Oakland or Shadyside. Since then, the hospital has expanded its facilities, offering 155 licensed beds, 44 private rooms and nine operating rooms.

“When we opened UPMC East, it was important to everyone that we became embedded in the community,” said Mark O’Hern, president of UPMC East and UPMC McKeesport. “To keep up with the demand for services, we have doubled the size of our emergency department, added additional operating rooms and opened multiple outpatient specialty centers. We will continue to grow to ensure our community has access to care, right here. This is just our first chapter.”

O’Hern emphasized the teamwork, communication and compassion that all staff members exercise to give the best care possible to patients and their family members.

“Our associates are truly what makes UPMC East so special,” O’Hern said. “From our physicians and providers to those working in both clinical and non-clinical roles, they create exceptional experiences for our patients.”

UPMC East was the health enterprise’s first hospital to be built from the ground up. Starting with 500 employees, the hospital now employs more than 1,000 staffers, 76 of whom have been with East since opening day.

During the celebration, the speakers were nostalgic as they reminisced about their history with the hospital. Sean Logan, UPMC East board chairman, became emotional when he shared his personal experience of helping the hospital come to fruition then later becoming a patient there.

“The care I received was amazing, and I probably wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for you all,” said Logan as he motioned for staff members to rise and receive a round of applause.

Other speakers included Mark Sevco, president of UPMC; Rebecca Perry, director of clinical informatics; Dr. Kotayya Kondaveeti, vice president of business development at UPMC; and Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock. Every presenter had affectionate words for the hospital.

“UPMC East has been embraced by the local community and has exceeded our expectations for growth as we continue to expand services and facilities to accommodate the still-increasing local demand for UPMC care,” Sevco said. “Our culture at UPMC East reflects the outstanding quality outcomes, employee engagement and patient experiences.”

Kondaveeti, a major key to the siting and development of UPMC East, attributed the success of the hospital to a team effort. Kondaveeti said he hopes the hospital will continue to expand.

Perry was one of the first nurses hired at UPMC East and has remained close to its operations.

“Working at East has been one of the most special and fun experiences of my career,” she said. “It’s all because of the people that make this place all that it is.”

The hospital employs over 1,000 people and has a total annual economic impact to the region of more than $300 million, according to UPMC. Gresock mentioned how the hospital has brought jobs and excellent health care resources to the community.

“East has been nothing but a tremendous asset,” said Gresock. “We are very proud that they call Monroeville home.”

Parting remarks at the event emphasized UPMC East’s goal to continue expanding and updating their technology to ensure the best care for their patients.

“The best stories of UPMC East are yet to come,” added Sevco.