PITTSBURGH, PA (Jan. 24, 2023)— Highmark Health announced today the appointment of Whitney Perkins Witt, PhD, MPH, as vice president of social determinants of health (SDoH), operations and strategy. In this pivotal leadership role for Highmark, Dr. Witt will direct SDoH interventions, research and evaluation, advanced data analytics, provider collaboration, health innovation and technology, and thought leadership.

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play that can impact up to 80 percent of an individual’s health before the healthcare system can intervene. By digging deeper into ‘non-health’ related questions, Highmark is leading the way in helping members and patients move past health care to focus solely on health.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Witt and her long-standing history of success to Highmark,” said Nebeyou Abebe, senior vice president of social determinants of health at Highmark. “The importance of understanding social determinants and minimizing the barriers that stand before our communities and members is at the core of our work. I’m confident that Dr. Witt’s unique skill set and robust experience will lead to positive advancements in the health and well-being of our members while reducing health disparities.”

Dr. Witt brings nearly 30 years of experience to Highmark and has led multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement strategic health initiatives, conduct research, launch innovative technical assistance programs, and develop and create digital clinical tools using advanced data analytics. In addition, she has expertise, particularly with SDoH, to improve cost, quality, and patient-related outcomes.

Before joining Highmark, Dr. Witt served as the vice president of AmeriSpeak, which is NORC at the University of Chicago’s premier multi-client, panel-based research platform, where she oversaw the development and growth of AmeriSpeak-centered business among Federal sponsors.

Prior to her experience at NORC, she served as a professor and Inaugural Dean of the College of Health at Lehigh University. As Dean, she established the first undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in population health and increased the diversity of university faculty by recruiting, hiring, and promoting talent from different racial, cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.

“I could not be prouder to join the Highmark team at this exciting time,” said Dr. Witt. “I am very impressed with and support Highmark’s ‘Living Health’ focus on social health, along with physical and behavioral health. The organization is at the forefront of implementing and evaluating interventions to address the SDOH and whole-person care. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to address the social determinants of health and improve health equity.”

Before joining Lehigh, Dr. Witt served as the Director of the Center for Maternal and Child Health Research at IBM Watson Health. She led multimillion-dollar Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) research projects and technical assistance programs, among other critical initiatives. While at IBM, Dr. Witt also led teams to develop award-winning, innovative healthcare delivery solutions using advanced data analytics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. In recognition of this work, Dr. Witt won several Watson Health and IBM-wide prestigious honors. In addition, she is an IBM Certified Practitioner of Cognitive Solutions.

Dr. Witt is a 26-year American Public Health Association (APHA) member and recently the Chair of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section. As an industry leader, she provides thought leadership to over 2,500 maternal and child health professionals. Additionally, Dr. Witt has extensive experience with teaching, mentorship, and service at the graduate level and has held full-time academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

She earned her Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Health Policy and Management and Public Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Health Services Research at the Harvard University School of Medicine, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Women’s Studies at Hampshire College.

Photo L-R: Mary Ann Raible, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Magnet Program Director, AHN West Penn Hospital; Brian Johnson, MD, President of AHN West Penn Hospital; Angela Costa, MPM, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of AHN West Penn Hospital. Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (January 23, 2023) – Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) West Penn Hospital is celebrating the formal announcement of its fourth consecutive Magnet® designation for nursing excellence, including delivery of the superior quality care and dedication of nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence and is the highest international honor for professional nursing practice.

Receiving Magnet designation is a remarkable achievement for AHN West Penn, especially for a fourth time, as it places the hospital among a select group of health care organizations and hospitals in the U.S. West Penn was the first hospital in southwestern Pennsylvania to earn the Magnet designation in 2006.

“A fourth Magnet designation is a tremendous honor and reflects the commitment to nursing excellence of all the nurses of West Penn Hospital and the interdisciplinary team in their quest to consistently deliver high quality, compassionate care,” said Claire Zangerle, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, Chief Nursing Executive for AHN. “By ensuring patients remain the focus of nursing practice, the nurses of West Penn Hospital are creating the best possible patient experiences and outcomes and serving as pillars of the Living Health model and culture that we are advancing to transform health care in our community.”

Research demonstrates that Magnet designation offers specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, including:

• A better patient experience relative to nurse communication and transitions of care.
• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates.
• Significantly higher job satisfaction among nurses and decreased incidents of nurses reporting intent to leave their positions.

Magnet designation is the gold standard for nursing excellence.  It is a contributing factor when the public assesses the quality of health care organizations in Specific U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals.” AHN West Penn is one of 39 Magnet organizations in Pennsylvania.

“As a Magnet designated organization, nurse leaders and staff consistently focus on executing best practices that outperform national benchmarks, demonstrating transformational leadership, and promoting a culture of safety and collaboration,” shared Angela Costa, MPM, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of West Penn Hospital. “This fourth consecutive recognition underscores the foundation of excellence and values upheld each day by West Penn nurses while they constantly strive to create a remarkable healthcare experience for our patients.”

To remain current, health care organizations are required to reapply for Magnet designation every four years ensuring adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality.

“The nurses at West Penn Hospital are an extraordinary group of skilled, caring individuals who have maintained the highest level of professionalism even during extremely challenging times over the past few years,” said Brian Johnson, MD, President of West Penn Hospital. “We are proud of their leadership and this outstanding accomplishment, and we are immensely grateful for the difference they make in the lives of our patients and their families.”

AHN West Penn Hospital is a 356 all private bed facility that has served Bloomfield and its surrounding communities since 1848, approaching its 175^th birthday in March of 2023. The hospital offers a wide range of specialized services that draw patients throughout the tri-state area and is home base for AHN’s Women’s Institute, Bariatric Institute, Autoimmunity Institute, Esophageal and Lung Institute, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, Bone Marrow and Cell Transplantation Program and Burn Treatment Center, among other services.

AHN Saint Vincent hospital in Erie was also named a Magnet hospital in 2022, along with AHN Jefferson hospital in 2021.

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About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program

The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice.

The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursingworld.org/magnet.

PITTSBURGH, PA – Dr. Don Green, President of Point Park University, since July 2021, has advised its Board of Trustees that he is resigning for private, personal and family reasons.

“Of course, we support his decision and wish Don the very best,” said Joe Greco, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The board thanks Don for his boundless energy toward advancing the mission of the University and, in particular, his service to students during his time here.”

Dr. Green took over as president of Point Park in July 2021, following the retirement of Dr. Paul Hennigan.

According to University By-Laws, Dr. Michael Soto, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, will assume the responsibilities of the presidency until further notice. Members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees are reviewing options for presidential succession and will be meeting with leaders of the various campus constituencies to discuss these options.

“As we work through this unexpected transition, I have full confidence that our entire leadership team, faculty and staff will remain focused on the excellent work they do in delivering on the mission of providing an outstanding higher education to our students,” Greco said.

Gas prices are three cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.779 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                          $3.779
Average price during the week of January 17, 2023                                          $3.743
Average price during the week of January 24, 2022                                          $3.508

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$3.795      Altoona
$3.801      Beaver
$3.796      Bradford
$3.773      Brookville
$3.788      Butler
$3.777      Clarion
$3.762      DuBois
$3.763      Erie
$3.761      Greensburg
$3.793      Indiana
$3.795      Jeannette
$3.792      Kittanning
$3.790      Latrobe
$3.788      Meadville
$3.823      Mercer
$3.714      New Castle
$3.777      New Kensington
$3.796      Oil City
$3.769      Pittsburgh
$3.768      Sharon
$3.758      Uniontown
$3.799      Warren
$3.738      Washington

Trend Analysis:

Drivers appear to be taking advantage of the recent milder weather in much of the nation by fueling up and hitting the road. An increase in gasoline demand and slightly more expensive oil pushed the national average for a gallon of gas 12 cents higher over the last week to $3.42. Today’s average is 33 cents more than a month ago and ten cents more than a year ago.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand rose from 7.56 million to 8.05 million barrels per day last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased by 3.5 million barrels to 230.3 million barrels.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by 98 cents to settle at $81.31. Crude prices rose at the end of last week due to increased market optimism that crude demand may be more robust than expected this year. In particular, the market believes that the re-opening of China’s economy, despite high coronavirus infection rates, will help to bolster global crude demand, while supporting elevated prices.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published January 24, 2023 7:55 A.M.

(Koppel Borough, PA) The PA State Police report they initiated a criminal investigation in December 2022 in regards to reports of sexual assaults of a 15 year old Ohio girl by a male family member that occurred on numerous occasions in Koppel. 42 year old Eric Taggart was charged with 113 total counts of various PA Crime Code Section, including but not limited to, Aggravated indecent assault, Sexual Abuse of Children, Unlawful Contact with Minor, and corruption of Minors. Taggart was taken into custody in Koppel Friday, and is housed in the Beaver County Jail.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

On a night that began with the New Brighton School Board receiving cheers from the Education Association for “School Board Appreciation Month”, the January 23 meeting quickly turned to cheering of a different sort.

With an uncharacteristically size of a crowd in attendance, the board heard from several students one by one as they came to the podium and pled for the return of competitive cheerleading to the New Brighton School District. Five current students spoke about the matter following Lindsay Johnson, the lone adult who kicked off the discussion of behalf of the Cheerleader Organization.

“New Brighton is known for their cheering program from youth to high school. We were the team to beat,” Johnson lauded. “And then it ended. Why? What is the real reason for saying no to these girls…these hard-working female student athletes? The majority should not be ignored. Do you want to be part of the solution, or do you want to be part of the continued effort to not listen when the majority is asking for change?”

The “majority” Johnson referred to is a petition of over 100 signatures that support the return of the cheerleading team to New Brighton, with the plea for support–existentially, officially, and financially–being asked of the school board. “We have a petition of over 100 signatures…all we need is you,” spoke Little Lions cheer coach Karmen Briancesco. “We need you to agree to the opportunity for New Brighton Varsity Cheerleading to compete again. Give us the opportunity that we’ve worked so hard for since we were in kindergarten. Let us prove to you all and everyone in the competitive world that we can dominate.”

While the school board commended those who spoke for their courageous efforts, the objective matters still loomed large over the ultimate goal. “We need a lot more information,” stated school board president John Ludwig. “We need to know how many girls, what would be the classification, what would be the least number of girls we could have competing, the number of girls who would be interested and actually want to do it, and the financials.”

Ludwig pointed to the recent eradication of the basketball team as an example of why such numbers were necessary: “In June, we had fifteen girls say they were going to play girls’ basketball. We currently have five girls.” He asked that the Cheer Organization reach out to superintendent Joseph Guarino and athletic director Joe Greco in regards to the official numbers, and that once that information was submitted that the board could discuss and potentially give a final decision in the future.

“We are absolutely supportive of the good work you’re doing and the way you presented it tonight,” board member Amy Fazio summarized. “This isn’t whether we support young women or we support cheer. ‘It’s a business decision, so let’s get the information and look at it’ I think is what I hear Lud saying.”

Following the public comment section of the evening, the regular meeting took place as scheduled. During the meeting, the board unanimously approved the 2023-24 High School Curriculum Handbook, along with the purchase of a new PA system in the middle school at a cost of $30,600. Five resignations were also approved by the school board, along with the hirings of Robert Zahn as an Athletic Worker and Heather River as an Instructional Assistant. Both hirings are for the current school year, pending clearances.

Also hired were fifteen coaches for spring sports, each of which were unanimously approved by the board:

The fifteen hired coaches will be joined by eight volunteer assistants–four for Varsity Baseball, three for Varsity Track, and one for Middle School Volleyball. The board also unanimously approved the Act 93 agreement for the School District, effective through June 30, 2028.

The next New Brighton School Board meeting is scheduled for February 13 at 7:30 PM.

PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week Photo

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane and shoulder restrictions on Route 65 in Glenfield Borough, Allegheny County will continue Monday, January 23 weather permitting.

The following restrictions will occur weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through mid-February:

• Southbound Route 65 – A single-lane restriction will occur approximately 1,000 feet north of I-79
• Northbound Route 65 – A shoulder closure will occur just south of the intersection with Toms Run Road

Crews will conduct construction work for a new ITS Dynamic Message Sign.

Please use caution if traveling through the area.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Vehicles are pictured during a press conference promoting National Work Zone Awareness Week outside of Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters on Monday, April 26, 2021.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing overnight lane restrictions on northbound I-79 in Sewickley Hills Borough, Allegheny County will begin Monday night, January 23 weather permitting.

A single-lane restriction will occur on northbound I-79 between the Emsworth/Sewickley (Exit 66) and Mt. Nebo Road (Exit 68) interchanges weeknights from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. through mid-February as crews conduct Dynamic Message Sign installation work.

Please use caution if traveling through the area.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing gas line installation on Route 168 (Centennial Avenue) in New Galilee Borough, Beaver County will begin Monday, January 23 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic will occur weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through late March on Route 168 between Route 351 and Washington Street as crews from R&R Pipeline conduct gas line installation work for Columbia Gas.

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Abigail Sullivan at 724-650-7741.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to use a free online option to file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns. Taxpayers can visit mypath.pa.gov to file their PA tax returns through the department’s state-only filing system.

myPATH is user friendly and can also be used to make income tax payments. The deadline to submit 2022 personal income tax returns is Tuesday April 18, 2023.

“If you’re looking to avoid paying someone else a fee to file your PA return for you, myPATH is a great alternative. This online filing option helps us deliver on Governor Shapiro’s promise to keep costs down for Pennsylvanians and their families,” Acting Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said. “You can access myPATH from a computer, tablet or mobile phone, which makes it easy to file your return at a time and place that are convenient for you.”

Important Features in myPATH

Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.

In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number and the expiration date for the license/photo ID. myPATH offers error-reducing automatic calculators and provides instant confirmation that your return has been successfully filed.

If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update or view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf.

Spanish Feature in 2023

myPATH has an option for Spanish-speaking Pennsylvania taxpayers to file the PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). To access the Spanish language version of the PA-40, visit mypath.pa.gov and select the “Presentar una declaracion de impuestos sobre la renta personal de PA para 2022” option under the “Individuals” section.

Electronic Filing for Free

Other free electronic filing options are available to file state and federal returns using software from vendors. More vendor information is available on the Department of Revenue’s website. 

Electronic Filing for a Fee

Paid tax preparers and commercial tax preparation software providers offer electronic filing, or e-filing, for a fee. Check a list of vendors on the department’s website for further information.

April 18 Deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2022 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

PA Personal Income Tax Guide

Pennsylvania taxpayers who have personal income tax questions are encouraged to review the PA Personal Income Tax Guide, an online publication prepared by the Department of Revenue that includes detailed information on a number of PIT-related topics.

Taxpayer Service and Assistance

Personal income tax assistance is also available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.

Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and taxpayers are encouraged to bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.