State health chief OKs ECMC-Kaleida consolidation plan
Clears the way for new hospital network here
The state health commissioner has signed off on the historic agreement that will combine Erie County Medical Center and Kaleida Health, clearing the way for a new hospital network for Western New York, state officials said Friday.
Sources close to the negotiations said that all parties, including Health Commissioner Richard Daines, have now come to an agreement on the hospital combination plan and that attorneys would be spending the weekend working out the legal language in time for the Monday deadline.
“Gov. [David A.] Paterson believes this is a win-win for everybody involved and that this will improve health care access for all of Western New York,” said Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook.
Monday, the institutions announced that they had hammered out a plan that would allow them to remain separate but that a state-appointed board would have authority to make major decisions. In addition, a physicians committee, made up of half ECMC doctors and half Kaleida doctors, would have a significant say regarding changes in the medical programs.
“This is a process that has taken a great deal of time, and this process has been very complicated,” said Robert Gioia, chairman of the board of the Western New York Health System. “It has involved many, many people who have worked very hard. It hopefully will come to a conclusion that is in the best interest of all of Western New York.”
Kaleida Health spokesman Michael Hughes said his organization “is very confident that all the details will be finalized and we’ll have a binding agreement that’s approved by the June 30 deadline.”
The plan calls for ECMC and Buffalo General Hospital to remain open, with the trauma center remaining at ECMC.
Millard Fillmore Hospital at Gates Circle would close and all of its programs would merge into Buffalo General’s operations. In addition, a center for heart and vascular care would be constructed on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Also, a hospital network would be formed with the University at Buffalo to improve physician education and training programs.
