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Twins Recognized As First Born At Integrated Hospital

Area residents Ashley and Rodney Sandberg hold their twins newborns, Jack and Raegan. The twins were the first born following the merger between UPMC and WCA Hospital late last year. Submitted photo

 

Two area twins are being recognized as the first newborns delivered at the recently integrated UPMC Chautauqua WCA hospital — the same day the merger was finalized.

Weighing in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces, Jack Sandberg was born at 8:11 p.m. Dec. 1, with twin sister, Raegan, born at 8:12 p.m. weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Parents, Ashley and Rodney Sandberg, say the twins are the first bundles of joy to join their family.

“My husband and I are thrilled about our new additions to the family,” Ashley Sandberg said. “We had a wonderful patient experience and were excited to learn that our children were the first to be born on the hospital’s special day.”

Local physician, Nancy Allen, M.D., board-certified obstetrician, delivered the babies. The labor and delivery teams at UPMC Chautauqua WCA delivered four newborns on the commemorative day. To learn all of the ways UPMC Chautauqua WCA cares for you, visit their website at upmcchautauquawca.org. To learn more about UPMC, go to upmc.com.

The integration between WCA Hospital and UPMC became official on Dec. 1. UPMC Chautauqua WCA is the first New York State hospital and the first hospital outside of Pennsylvania to integrate with the Pittsburgh-based UPMC.

Officials from WCA and UPMC have been working on the integration for almost a year. The medical groups announced in December 2015 the signing of an affiliation to integrate agreement. During the summer, officials from both health care organizations worked to gain state approval from the state Public Health and Health Planning Council, Office of Mental Health and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Betsy T. Wright, WCA Hospital president and chief executive officer, said as part of the integration UPMC has committed to investing at least $25 million during the next 10 years to support enhancements at WCA. UPMC has also agreed to relieve WCA’s debt and cover its pension obligations, freeing up money for capital improvements. The integration will also bring additional specialty services and programs to the hospital.

Hospital officials said UPMC is one of the country’s largest provider-led integrated health care delivery and finance systems and as a leading academic medical center is consistently ranked in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals. UPMC Chautauqua WCA will continue to operate as an acute-care community hospital providing high-quality inpatient, outpatient and emergency department services to the Chautauqua County region.

Steve Kilburn, WCA Hospital Board of Directors chairman, said nothing as far as physician or health insurance coverage will change for WCA’s patients.

“UPMC Chautauqua WCA continues to be our local hospital,” he said in December. “This is a big win for our community.”

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