West Penn system taking a hard look at finances

Western Pennsylvania Hospital's new president has offered more details about the initiatives under way to reverse operating losses, cut costs and increase revenues at West Penn Allegheny Health System. In an e-mail sent to employees, Dawn Gideon cited a new "financial improvement project" that would identify ways to "reduce expenses, increase revenues, improve cash flow and tighten management controls." Among the areas under scrutiny are purchasing practices, how the system collects revenue and "productivity and staffing."