Washington Hospital was the site of a demonstration on Thursday by union representatives and other organizations concerned about the proposed merger of Washington Health System and UPMC. Melissa Duran is the president of the SEIU at the hospital and is also an EKG technician there. She gathered with representatives form the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, The Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium and the Washington County Labor Council. Together they are calling on the Pennsylvania Attorney General to scrutinize the merger and pay close attention to what has happened in other communities, not just in the Pittsburgh area but statewide where mergers have taken place. The group pointed out hospital closures that have occured shortly after mergers were complete. They spoke of health care costs rising after mergers as well. The group is concerned about job loss and the diminished health care available to Washington if UPMC were to close Washington Hospital’s doors. WJPA has reached out to representatives from the Washington Health System and UPMC for comment and to date we have received no response.