AHN closing primary care office in New Kensington as workers vote to unionize

Allegheny Health Network officials said a decision to shutter a longtime primary care office in New Kensington is unrelated to its office staff voting to unionize.

United Physicians at 305 Seventh St. is expected to close by the end of the year, said Sarafina James, AHN senior public relations analyst.

“That office has only one physician in it, and that physician has informed us he is leaving the organization,” James said. “As a result, that primary care office will close.”

James said AHN was notified of the departure prior to the vote by the 11 staff members to unionize.

“That vote has no bearing on our decision to close the office,” she said.

Mark Kerr, a member of the Teamsters Local 30 in Jeannette, helped facilitate the vote at United Physicians.

While it’s not common for health care providers to organize, Kerr said his group represents a wide variety of workers in Westmoreland County.

According to Kerr, of the 12 nurse practitioners, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and other staff, seven people voted to join Local 30, four voted against the move and one person was absent.

Office manager Beth Parr did not return calls seeking comment.

It was not clear whether employees would be transferred to another office. AHN has primary care locations in Harrison, Cheswick and Vandergrift.

Kerr accused AHN of trying to union bust. He claims the decision to close the office was “repercussions” for unionizing.

James reiterated that’s not the case.

She said patients will be notified in coming weeks.

James did not provide information on how many AHN offices have unionized employees.

United Physicians is open weekdays.

It serves more than 3,000 patients who Kerr said will now be forced to travel outside the neighborhood for health care. Many are without transportation, Kerr said.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo did not respond to a request for comment on how the departure might impact the city.

In 2019, AHN moved its Express Care clinic into the United Physicians office, just across from the former Citizens General Hospital.

Partially staffed by United Physicians staff, the clinic provided care for minor ailments and injuries, including allergies and asthma, coughs and colds, minor burns, cuts, sprains and strains.

The Express Care was relocated in 2022 to Kensington Square on Eighth Street and remains open.