Your front-page article about UPMC "jet-setters" seemed innocent enough ("UPMC leasing luxury jets for doctors, administrators," May 6 and PghTrib.com), but why not be direct and use the headline "Nonprofit UPMC overcharges us again!"
That seems to be the message you wanted to deliver by questioning its use of a particular private jet that Celine Dion also uses, and I believe your Page 1 article was misplaced media bias.
UPMC is a world-class medical giant headquartered in Pittsburgh. Luckily, organizations such as UPMC attract world-class talent who indeed need to travel the world. Is it so wrong that this talent travels in world-class equipment⢠In other words, maybe UPMC doesn't want to attract the type of professional and medical talent who would be satisfied with more mundane or inconvenient international travel.
I pay for health care just like anyone else, and UPMC is my health plan. To date, I've been satisfied with the services rendered. More important, as a Pittsburgher, I am proud of the world-class attention UPMC has brought to the city. We need more organizations like UPMC, not fewer, and when we get them, the talent will demand world-class facilities and treatment, or they won't come.
Your point that Celine Dion and UPMC use the same jet somehow questions the "worthiness" of UPMC. If any question is asked, it should be, "How does a Las Vegas performer rate to use the same jet as a world-class medical provider such as UPMC?"
In the future, please consider the difference between investigative journalism that truly uncovers wrongdoing and a frivolous front-page piece that merely "poisons the water."
Jim Caprio
Upper St. Clair
