Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey today announced that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved federal funding for several Southwestern Pennsylvania health, education and labor projects. The projects are contained in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
“I am pleased my colleagues have approved this important funding for Southwestern Pennsylvania,” Senator Specter said. “Health and education are our nation’s greatest capital assets, and these projects are vital to ensuring quality health care and education for Pennsylvania.”
“I am happy that funding for these vital projects has been approved by my colleagues,” Senator Casey said. “These funds will ensure that Pennsylvanians have access to quality health care, job training programs and education. This is great news for Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
The bill must be approved by the full Senate, the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President before funding is final.
Southwestern Pennsylvania projects in the bill include:
Healthcare-related
• $100,000 for Allegheny General Hospital in Allegheny County for equipment. Specifically, funding will be used for equipment, computer software and a unit dose packaging system in order to implement Knowledge Based Medication Administration to improve patient safety.
• $100,000 for Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center in Allegheny County for equipment which will aid the health care center in providing free medical and dental services to individuals without insurance and ineligible for government assistance.
• $100,000 for Children's Institute of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County for facilities and equipment. The equipment will be for research into environmental triggers of autism in order to develop effective treatments.
• $100,000 for Cornerstone Care in Greene County for outreach and supplies to expand dental care. The services Cornerstone Care will improve access for underserved individuals and help to reduce their overall health care costs.
• $100,000 for Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Westmoreland County to implement an electronic medical records system. This technology allows for medical service providers to share patient information, decreases the need for repeat testing and minimizes prescription drug errors.
• $100,000 for Jewish Healthcare Foundation in Allegheny County to expand web-based training programs. These programs will disseminate best practice training and models of care to healthcare professionals to address deficiencies in patient outcomes and safety.
• $100,000 for Seton Hill University in Westmoreland County for equipment relating to dental health education. Funds will help purchase equipment for clinic facilities, which will also be used to serve indigent families.
• $100,000 for University of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County for equipment relating to cancer diagnostics and treatment. Funds will be used for equipment for the In Vivo Molecular Imaging Facility to improve interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
Education-related
• $100,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc. in Allegheny County for mentoring programs. The initiative engages youth from disadvantaged communities and teams them up with adult mentors to help ensure that the youth complete high school.
• $100,000 for Homeless Children’s Education Fund in Allegheny County for afterschool programs. Funds will also support advanced training for shelters’ staff and for parents on child development and education.
• $100,000 for Carnegie Mellon University in Allegheny County for internet-based foreign language programs. The initiative accelerates the development of an advanced online tutoring program by utilizing cognitive learning technologies and computer assisted language instruction.
• $100,000 for Community College of Allegheny County to support technical and career postsecondary education programs. Funds will help sustain a partnership in Pennsylvania’s northern tier with area businesses and industries to serve the employment needs of the region where a community college does not currently exist.
Labor-related
• $100,000 for Manchester Bidwell Corporation in Allegheny County to support an Electronic Health Record Training Program at Bidwell Training Center to train students to become proficient in accurately documenting data and maintaining electronic health records. For over 40 years, Bidwell Training Center has served disadvantaged or dislocated workers in Southwestern PA by providing skills consistent with the needs of regional businesses.
###
