New UPMC Altoona, Bedford president named days after trauma center downgrade announcement

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford are officially under new leadership.

The healthcare system announced Friday that Michael Corso, who has been serving as interim president of the hospital since March was officially appointed president and CEO.

This transition is occurring during a time of flux for the hospital, coming on the heels of UPMC’s announcement that it will downgrade the trauma center at the Altoona campus from a Level II to a Level III, sighting staffing concerns.

“Staffing shortages are a universal health care problem. And I think that we are doing everything we can to try and attract, to recruit and retain staff,” Corso said. “Importantly know, It’s also important to retain the staff you have.”

Staffing shortages have historically been a problem at UPMC Altoona. A recovery room nurse at the hospital told WTAJ that from Sunday morning into Monday, she had worked over 18 hours and still had patients in need of care.

While UPMC is using the downgrade as a way to reduce the number of staff needed around the clock to care for patients, first responders feel that this will put the staffing burden on them — something they are also struggling with.

With the downgrade, the only remaining Level II trauma center in Central Pennsylvania is Penn Highlands DuBois in Clearfield County and the only Level I trauma center is Conemaugh Memorial in Johnstown meaning that patients who would’ve previously been treated in full at UPMC Altoona, will now be stabilized there before being transported by ambulance or helicopter to another facility capable of treating their injuries.

Jordan Anthony, Executive Director for the Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, said that many ambulance companies in the region are short-staffed and while efforts are being made to fill the gaps, the safe transport of the patient from facility to facility is just something EMS personnel will just have to navigate.

“Regardless, you know, we definitely see staffing restraints and it is a problem. But, you know, I do know, between, you know, the great team at AMED and Hollidaysburg and surrounding agencies, that we’ll be able to get these patients moved,” Anthony said.

Corso does not believe the downgrade will substantially impact many patients.

“I think the impact will be…I don’t want to underplay any impact to our community because any impact to the community is a big deal. I think it will not be a tremendously large amount of patients who will be transferred as a result of this,” Corso said.

UPMC Altoona currently treats approximately one million trauma patients each year .

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The hospital is still in the early stages of the transition and Corso said they still have some details regarding patient care to figure out. The change over to a Level III will occur Sept. 10.

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