West Penn Hospital

This week will bring extended excessive heat risks. 🔆🌡️🥵
Here are some tips to stay hydrated.💧👍

We've been programmed to stretch cold muscles in preparation for an activity or workout, when what we should be doing is warming up before stretching our muscles. Our Director of Sports Performance, Frank Velasquez, explains that a stretch routine in preparation for a workout should be more active and dynamic in nature, while saving static stretches for cool down purposes, after the muscles are already warm from activity.

Loree’s family said that their community hospital gave them two choices, remove life support or transfer Loree to Allegheny General Hospital for expert-level advanced cardiac care. They chose to transfer Loree’s care to our Cardiovascular Institute team at AGH who saved her life. Today, Loree’s heart is healthy and she’s resumed hiking mountains with her husband and two children. 💚

A Bethel Park mom is ready for Mother's Day following a life-threatening infection “What got me through it was knowing I am a mom and my kids need me.”

Congratulations to our West Penn School of Nursing Class of 2024! We're excited to see what advancements they will bring to the field of nursing!

If you're interested in becoming a nurse, learn more about our flexible scheduling options: https://bit.ly/3RdAbwR

"I've known my husband for 18 years and I would have made all the wrong choices. I was surprised by his medical treatment preferences as we talked through the prompts in the booklet. It only took us about thirty minutes to finish our living will and medical power of attorney and upload it into MyChart. Now, I have peace of mind." - Emily

Our new (and free) Advance Healthcare Directive planning tools are available in the Life Planning section of MyChart or the booklet can be downloaded from our website: https://bit.ly/3WMJtDE

Are you or someone you love a Pickler? (And did you know that's the name for someone who plays pickleball?) Zach Cirillo, one of our strength and conditioning specialists, shares a few reasons why pickleball is a great option for a workout.

No matter where you are in your pregnancy journey, our trusted medical experts will be by your side. Our team helps families get their best start to their lives together. 💚 In fact, we provide childbirth services at five of our hospitals:

- West Penn Hospital (Pittsburgh)
- Forbes Hospital (Monroeville)
- Wexford Hospital (North Hills)
- Jefferson Hospital (South Hills)
- Saint Vincent Hospital (Erie)

Learn more about our top-ranked pregnancy and newborn services: https://bit.ly/3JreJjv

We're so grateful for the hard work and dedication of our team members! It's National Hospital Week, so join us in celebrating our incredible team and all they do for our community. 💚 In the comments below, give a shoutout to your favorite AHN team member or department!

It's Nurses Week, and we want to honor our nurses at all of our facilities, and thank them for their dedication and support. 💚 Have you had a great experience with one of our nurses? Share your story in the comments to let them know how important they were to your care!

We work closely with new parents to make sure babies are in the right position and environment for a safe night’s sleep. 🌜 Did you know that we’ve been recognized by the Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative as a gold-level health system for our commitment to best practices and education on infant sleep safety?

This designation, earned across our L&D units, was created by Pittsburgh-based Cribs for Kids® — the only national organization focused primarily on infant sleep safety.

From a galaxy far, far away to a hospital room in Pittsburgh, this is an incredible story of friendship and compassion, and the power of The Force. 💫

Matt and Jim met and became friends in the Star Wars The 501st Legion. In the movies, Darth Vader sacrificed himself to save his son's life. In real life, Darth Vader (Matt) did the same for his Stormtrooper, Jim, when Jim needed a liver transplant.

Matt and Dr. Tadahiro Uemura joined forces to cure Jim's liver cancer through transplant. Today, Matt and Jim are busy prepping for May the Fourth and are healthy reminders that true heroes exist both in and out of the Star Wars universe, and that The Force is strong, and will be with you…always.

📷: Jeff Zoet Visuals

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Jason and his wife had newborn twins at home when the health of his mother-in-law, Charlene, had deteriorated and she was in need of a kidney transplant. Jason was quick to get tested and to everyone's surprise, he was a match.

Today, they are both healthy and Charlene said, "I have a full life now." and "I'm healthy enough to babysit my four grandkids and am here to watch them grow up."

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Dan and Jennifer Marzzarella knew they were a perfect match when they started dating in high school and have been together for almost 30 years! Jenn was in liver failure and Dan asked to be tested. The couple knew that it is incredibly rare for spouses to have compatible livers, but they, again, were a perfect match. Of Dan, Jenn said, "he gave me everything. I've had 730+ days with my family that I wouldn't have had."

Dr. Tadahiro Uemura, one of their transplant surgeons, was excited to see them at our recent living donor celebration.

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Have you had a baby in our NICU? If so, you've probably benefited from the support of Zachary's Mission. Patricia (second from right) founded Zachary's Mission to provide emotional, physical and financial support to our NICU families — to make staying by their child’s bedside easier during extended hospitalizations. We’re so grateful for their support of our patients and their families. 💚

We're staring the week off with another story about the importance of organ donation.

Robin, a teacher, always said that if her health got to a point where she would need a kidney transplant, she would not want one from any of her children or her students. She didn't want them to have surgery on her behalf.

Unfortunately, Robin's condition deteriorated and she was in need of a living donor. Her daughter, Emily, quickly stepped up to get tested and was a match. Today, they're both healthy and very grateful to have each other. 💚

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Heather said that it was really hard to watch Mimi, her friend of more than 20 years, get so sick from kidney disease. She was surprised that she was a match and jumped at the chance to save Mimi's life with a kidney transplant. Heather said she, "would do this again in a heartbeat." Today, Mimi is healthy and "so happy that I'll get to see my kids go through life and that I can be active again." 💚

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

John knew someone who died while waiting for a heart transplant and decided that he wanted to do what he could to save someone who was on the kidney transplant list. He quickly found a match and is doing very well following his transplant. He said, "it was very easy. I would do it again if I could."

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

We're back with another inspiring story about the impact organ donation has made. 💚

Danny was so sick that his wife, Kathleen, would walk into a room and wonder if he was alive. After all, Danny had lost his brother, father, cousin, uncle and grandfather to the same polycystic kidney disease that he was diagnosed with.

Kathleen was a match to donate a kidney to Danny and she said, "I got my old husband back." Danny and Kathleen's children do not have the same hereditary disease that has plagued their family and their children can't pass it onto their grandchildren, so with Kathleen's donation to Danny, they've "broken the family curse" and will be healthy enough to watch their grandchildren grow up!

Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn

If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Have you heard of 12-3-30? This popular treadmill workout consists of walking for 30 minutes at 3 miles per hour while the treadmill is set to an incline of 12. Kaitlyn Falce, one of our Strength and Conditioning Specialists from AHN Sports Medicine and Performance, shares that while it is a good lower body workout, it’s best to pair this workout with another type of exercise like strength training or yoga. Will you be giving this a try?

April is National Donate Life month and we'll be featuring patient stories all month to highlight the impact a single organ donation can have.

Oscar and Jenn were attending the funeral of a mutual friend when Jenn learned that Oscar was in need of a kidney and could be on the waiting list for 5 years before it was his turn for a transplant.

Without their friends knowing, Jenn called the AGH transplant center to get tested and quickly learned that she was a match. She thought that Oscar might have said no to her generous gift if he knew it was coming from a friend, so she didn't tell him that she was his donor until several days after their surgery. Today, Oscar is very grateful for Jenn's donation and his current good health.
Have you registered as an organ donor on your license? If not, you can also register here: https://registerme.org/campaign/ahn
If you want to learn more about living donation, call (412) 359-4441

Everyone should begin to have regular colonoscopies at age 45, but if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, you may need to start earlier. Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following risk factors, and check out these resources about colorectal cancer. https://bit.ly/3IZOf86

Taking care of your mental health affects many aspects of our life, yet it's often overlooked. Research shows that there are easy and effective ways to boost our mental health, and implementing strategies into our day or a few times per week can be impactful.

One of our licensed psychologists and neuropsychologists, Dr. Hollie Dean-Hill, shared a few tips on how to prioritize things that can support your mental health.

You are what you eat. 🥦 When it comes to heart health, Dr. Indu Poornima, one of our cardiologists, recommends keeping your plate colorful. Get more of her tips for a heart-healthy diet in this graphic!

Pelvic floor health issues aren't a given as you get older. You don’t need to ignore them, or deal with them in silence. Learn more about pelvic floor health and some of the care we can provide: https://bit.ly/40spaLt

Renovations to our Mellon Pavilion are finally complete! This facility houses several primary and women's care offices, streamlining access to make it a more convenient and positive experience for our patients.

When life gets busy, it’s easy to be less intentional about adding vegetables into your meals. 🥕 AHN Registered Dietitian Beth Gold is back with more tips on how you can add more nutrients into your diet.

Need some inspiration for new ways to move? Check out some ideas from AHN Strength and Conditioning Specialist Krista Matsko below, and let us know some of your favorite exercises in the comments.

“Eat your vegetables” is advice that we’ve all heard for longer than we can remember but may be the first thing we forget about when life gets in the way. With some planning and intention, adding vegetables into your meals can soon become a habit. 🥦

Beth Gold, one of our registered dietitians, shares some strategies to help you increase your veggie intake with ease.

Just because January is over doesn't mean it's too late to start a new exercise routine! AHN Strength and Conditioning Specialist Krista Matsko says the key is to start slowly and give yourself easy wins to build confidence around moving your body. Check out some of her tips and tricks, and let us know yours!

Did you know that we offer personalized strength training and conditioning programs through our sports performance services to help you meet your fitness goals? Learn more: https://bit.ly/3N1ETc0

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States? Additionally, the risk of heart problems can increase after menopause.

Today is National Wear Red Day, and people across the country are wearing red to spread awareness of women’s heart disease and stroke. Take care of your own heart health with these tips from AHN Cardiologist Dr. Indu Poornima.