LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Opening Third Location

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh is redistributing its 196 beds to include a third location in the greater Pittsburgh area in an effort to broaden its service capabilities and better meet the needs of medically complex patients in the community. LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh currently operates two locations: the Main Campus at 225 Penn Avenue and the Suburban Campus on the fourth floor of Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus at 100 South Jackson Avenue.  

In October, the LifeCare hospital currently located at Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus will move to a new home within Alle-Kiski Medical Center at 1301 Carlisle Street in Natrona Heights. And in November, LifeCare will open a new hospital on the recently renovated fifth floor of the Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus with beds relocated from the Main campus. This will allow LifeCare to expand its operations and program offerings while better utilizing all of the 196 available long term acute care beds currently licensed within its network. Services offered at the new hospital located at the Suburban Campus will include a high intensity unit for people recovering from traumatic injury or illness. In the near future LifeCare is also planning to broaden its capabilities by opening a behavioral health unit and a skilled nursing center at this location.

"We are excited about the opportunity to bring LifeCare's award-winning services to Alle-Kiski Medical Center, and to help patients northeast of Pittsburgh who are recovering from medically complex conditions like acute injury or illness," said LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Chief Executive Officer Rick Pletz. "In deciding on this location we researched the needs of the community, listened to our patients and their families, and sought the guidance of area medical professionals. We learned there is a significant need for long term acute care hospital services in Natrona Heights and the surrounding communities and we look forward to providing that care. Additionally, we are pleased to be opening a new hospital at the Suburban Campus enabling us to provide a broad array of services to the patients and families in the North Hills Community."

Collectively, LifeCare Hospitals' three Pittsburgh locations will retain a total of 196 long term acute care beds in a private room setting. LifeCare specializes in the treatment of medically complex patients who require extended hospitalization. Many of our patients are transferred to LifeCare after a stay in an intensive care unit and have often experienced multiple system failures and slow response to traditional medical treatments. Each of the hospital campuses will provide 24-hour physician coverage, an aggressive ventilator weaning program and advanced wound care. The reallocation of resources across the LifeCare network will provide an opportunity to serve 118 patients at Main Campus, 37 patients at Suburban Campus and up to 41 patients at the Alle-Kiski location.

LifeCare will continue to care for patients and accept referrals throughout the transition period.  Physicians and case managers with possible referrals, and families with interest in LifeCare's services, should contact 412-247-2365 for intake and admissions information.

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh recently earned the Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) award from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), placing LifeCare in an elite group of only 15 percent of hospitals in the United States that have received this honor.

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh is part of the LifeCare family of hospitals, which includes 20 specialty acute care hospitals in nine states. To learn more about our facilities, visit us on the Web at www.lifecare-hospitals.com.

SOURCE LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh